IIERKIIEY 
.I&RARY 


UNIVERSITY  OF 
CALIFORNIA 


EDUCATIONAL  WORKS. 


Alden's  Natural  Speaker,  being  Selections  to  aid  the  Student  in 
acquiring  a  Simple,  Natural,  Business-like  Style  of  Speaking.  By 
JOSEPH  ALDEN,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  President  of  the  New  York  State 
Normal  School.  1  vol.,  12mo. 

—  Elements  of  Intellectual  Philosophy. 
Arnold's  History  of  Rome.    1  vol.,  8vo.    6TO  pages. 

—  Lectures  oa  Modern  History.    Large  12mo.    428  pages. 
Bain's  English  Composition  and  Ehetoric.    l  vol.,  12mo. 

Mental    Science.     A    Compendium    of  Psychology  and 

History  of  Philosophy.     1  vol.,  12mo. 
Moral  Science.    A  Compendium  of  Ethics.    1  vol.,  12mo. 

Bojesen'3  Mmual  of  Grecian  and  Roman  Antiquities.    With 

Notes  and  Questions  by  THOMAS  K.  ARNOLD.    12ino.    209  pages. 

CorneTs  Geographical  Works.    Consisting  of: 

FIRST  STEPS  IN  GEOGRAPHY.     Child's  4to. 

PRIMARY  GEOGRAPHY.    Small  4to. 

INTERMEDIATE  GEOGRAPHY.    Large  4to. 

GRAMMAR-SCHOOL  GEOGRAPHY.    Large  4to. 

HIGH-SCHOOL  GEOGRAPHY  AND  ATLAS. 

PHYSICAL  GEOGRAPHY.    Large  4to.    104  pages. 

CARDS  FOR  THE  STUDY  AND  PRACTICE  OF  MAP-DRAWTNG. 

SERIES  OF  OCTLINE  MAPS.    WITH  KEY. 

Cornell's  Geographies  are  at  once  practical,  systematic,  and  complete, 
philosophical  in  arrangement,  and  progressive  in  the  development  of  the 
subject.  They  are  used  IN  ALL  PARTS  of  the  United  States,  and  have 
been  officially  recommended  for  the  use  of  the  Public  Schools  of  Ver 
mont,  New  Hampshire,  Wisconsin,  Ohio,  Indiana,  California,  and  all 
other  States  where  official  adoptions  are  made. 

Covel's  Digest  of  English  Grammar :  Synthetical  and  Analyti 
cal.  12m<>.  219  pages. 

Coe's  Drawing  Cards.     For  Children     In  10  parts. 

Coe  and  Shell's  Elementary  Drawing  Cards.  In  3  parts.  De 
signed  for  Children. 

Dew's  Digest  of  the  Laws,  Customs,  Manners,  ard  Institu 
tions  of  the  Ancient  and  Modern  Nations.  By  THOMAS  DEW,  late 
President  of  the  College  of  William  and  Mary.  8vo.  662  pages. 


STANDARD  EDUCATIONAL  WORK, 


Gillespie's  Land  Surveying  :  Theoretical  and  Pra/ic 
GILLESPIE,  LL.  D.,  Professor  of  Civil  Engineerin^n  " 
With  400  Engravings,  and  a  Map,  showing  ttft  Variat 
Needle  in  the  United  States.     8vo.    424  pagesX 

Levelling,   Topography,  and^flligher  Surveying. 

Edited  by  CADY  STALEY,  A.  M.,  C.  E.    8vo.    171  pages. 

Graham's  English  Synonymes.  Classified  and  Explained.  With 
Practical  Exercises,  at  I  Illustrative  Authorities.  Edited  by  HENBY 
KEED,  LL.  D.  12ino.  344  pages. 

Guizot's  History  of  Civilization  in  Europe. 
Greene's  History  of  the  Middle  Ages. 

Haswell's  Book-Keeping  by  Double  Entry,  Explained  and  Prac 
tically  Illustrated  in  a  Complete  Record  of  Mercantile  and  Financial 
Transactions,  including  Rules  and  numerous  Examples  in  Com 
mercial  Calculations.  Designed  for  Schools,  the  Counting-House, 
and  Private  Instruction.  In  two  parts.  Svo. 

Huxley  &  Youmans's  Elements  of  Physiology  and  Hygiene : 

for  Schools  and  Academies.     With  numerous  Illustrations.    12mo. 

Keightley's  Mythology.    iSmo. 

Kceppen's  Historical  Geography.    2  vols.,  I2mo. 

Krusi's  Drawing.  Inventive  Course,  in  Four  Series.  Now  ready, 
Synthetic  Series,  Manual,  1  vol,  8vo.,  44  pages.  Drawing-Book, 
4  parts,  16  paires. 

Latham's  Hand-Book  of  English  Literature.  12mo.  398  pages. 

Lockyer'S  Elements  Of  Astronomy.    Embracing  the  latest  Discov- 

.    eries,  richly   illustrated,    and    accompanied  with    Arago's   Celestial 

Charts,  and  Colored  Delineations  of  the  Solar.  Stellar,  and  Nebular 

Spectra.      By  J.    NORMAN  LOCKYER.     American  edition,   specially 

adapted  to  the  Schools  of  the  United  States.    12mo.    312  pages. 

LyelPs  Principles  of  Geology.  2  vols.,  8vo.  New  and  revised  edi 
tion.  843  pages. 

Marsh's  Book-Keeping  by  Single  Entry,  New  edition.  Print- 
ed  in  colors.  Svo.  142  pages. 

—  Book-Keeping  by  Double  Entry.    Printed  in  colors. 
Svo.    220  pages.     Blanks  to  each  of  above. 


SEE  EXD   OF  THIS   VOLUME. 


THE  MINNESOTA  TEXT-BOOK  SEHIES. 


AMERICAN    HISTORY 


FOE    SCHOOLS: 


ACCOMPANIED    WITH 

NUMEROUS  ILLUSTRATIONS  FROM  ORIGINAL  DESIGNS, 
AND  COLORED  MAPS. 


BY 


G.  P.  QUACKENBOS,  LL.D., 

AUTHOE  OP  "  FIRST    LESSONS    IN   COMPOSITION,"    "  ADVANCED    COURSE   OF  COMPOSITIfl^ 

AND  EHETOKIC,"   "AN  ENGLISH  GRAMMAR,"   "ILLUSTRATED  \P 

LESSONS  IN   OUR   LANGUAGE,"   ETC.  iS 


ST.   PAUL,   MINK: 
D.      D.      MERRILL, 

35   EAST    THIRD    ST. 

1878. 


BY    THE    SAME    AUTHOR. 


Illustrated  School  History  of  the  United  States:  A  Comprehensive 
Treatise,  containing  a  full  Account  of  the  Aborigines,  Biographical  Notices  of  Distin 
guished  Men,  numerous  Maps,  Plans  of  Battle-fields,  and  Pictorial  Illustrations.  12mo, 
550  pages. 

Elementary  History  of  the  United  States  :  Made  easy  and  interesting 
for  beginners.  With  numerous  Illustrations  and  Maps.  16mo,  216  pages. 

Illustrated  Lessons  in  Our  "Language  ;  or,  How  to  Speak  and  Write  Cor 
rectly.  Designed  to  teach  children  English  Grammar  without  its  Technicalities.  16mo, 
180  pages. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  18T7,  by 

G.  P.  QUACKENBOS, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


GffT 


t/7? 

'  / 

Q/7 
' 


PREFACE. 


THE  calls  that  have  been  made  on  the  Author  for  a  text-book  on  the 
history  of  our  country,  intermediate  in  size  between  his  larger  and  his 
Elementary  History  of  the  United  States,  have  led  to  the  preparation  of  the 
present  volume.  It  is  an  entirely  new  work,  freshly  compiled,  —  different 
from,  and  independent  of,  the  manuals  just  mentioned  ;  and  it  is  hoped  that 
it  may  meet  the  wants  of  teachers  who  desire  a  course  brief  while  it  is 
complete,  and  interesting  while  it  is  condensed. 

Accuracy  and  impartiality  in  stating  facts  have  been  the  author's  spe 
cial  aim.  He  has  earnestly  labored  to  avoid  the  use  of  fragmentary  para 
graphs,  devoid  of  logical  connection  ;  to  clothe  the  narrative  in  an  attractive 
style  ;  to  accompany  it  with  abundant  maps  and  illustrations  that  will  throw 
light  upon  the  text  ;  to  adapt  it  to  the  improved  modern  methods  of  teach 
ing  ;  and  to  awaken  in  the  student  a  taste  for  historical  reading.  In  the 
belief  that  the  history  of  a  country  is  something  besides  a  mere  record 
of  its  battles,  revolutions,  and  conquests,  it  has  been  attempted  to  give  an 
idea  of  the  state  of  society  at  different  times,  and  to  show  the  improve 
ments  in  domestic  life,  as  well  as  the  more  important  inventions  and  dis 
coveries,  that  indicate  the  progress  and  intellectual  growth  of  the  people. 

In  the  different  systems  of  topical  reviews  —  analytical,  geographical, 
chronological,  and  biographical  —  appended  to  the  several  chapters,  and  in 
the  presentation  of  a  bird's-eye  view  of  contemporaneous  events  at  certain 
periods,  it  is  believed  a  feature  will  be  found  that  will  meet  with  general 
approval.  While  many  teachers  pursue  methods  of  their  own  deduced 
from  experience,  it  may  be  Avell  for  those  who  have  no  better  system  to 
follow  the  suggestions  thrown  out  in  connection  with  these  reviews  for 
their  practical  use. 

NEW  YORK,  June  28,  1877. 


In  the  figured  pronunciation,  sound  a  like  a  in  fate  ;  a  like  a  in  India  ; 
£  and  eh  like  e  in  met ;  ow  like  ow  in  cow  ;  it  like  the  French  u  ;  gh  like  g 
in  go  ;  n  like  the  French  nasal  n. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.  The  Western  Continent, 5 

II.  Discoveries  of  Columbus, 9 

III.  Mound-Builders. — Indians. — Esquimaux,        .         .         .         .15 

IV.  Early  Discoveries  of  Different  Nations,      ....          26 
V.  Early  English  Voyages. — Settlement  of  Virginia,  .         .         .39 

VI.  Dutch  Settlements. — New  France, 51 

VII.  First  Settlements  in  New  England, 56 

VIII.  Settlement  of  Connecticut,  Maryland,  and  Delaware, .         .  67 

IX.  The  New  World  from  1640  to  1675, 75 

X.  King  Philip's  War. — Bacon's  Rebellion,    ....  83 

XI.  Founding  of  Pennsylvania, 88 

XII.  The  New  World  at  the  Close  of  the  Seventeenth  Century,  92 

XIII.  Queen  Anne's  War.— Settlement  of  Georgia.— The  South-west,  101 

XIV.  King  George's  War. — Washington's  Mission,         .         .         .  107 
XV.  French  and  Indian  War  begun, Ill 

XVI.  French  and  Indian  War  concluded, 118 

XVII.  The  Eve  of  the  Revolution, 126 

XVIII.  Beginning  of  the  Revolution, 139 

XIX.  Revolutionary  War:  Events  of  1776,        ....  147 

XX.  Revolutionary  War :  Events  of  1777, 158 

XXI.  Revolutionary  War :  Events  of  1778-1779,        ...  168 

XXII.  Revolutionary  War :  Events  of  1780, 176 

XXIII.  Revolutionary  War:  Events  of  1781,         ....  184 

XXIV.  Close  of  the  Revolutionary  War. — Formation  of  the  Con 

stitution,  193 

XXV.  The  Early  Presidents, 199 

XXVI.  War  with  Great  Britain,  1812-1815,      .        ,        ..       .         .  213 

XXVII.  After  the  War  of  1812, i    :-  .       281 

XXVIII.  The  Mexican  War, .         .248 

XXIX.  Taylor,  Fillmore,  Pierce,  Buchanan,  ....       256 

XXX.  The  Civil  War,  1861-1865, 264 

XXXI.  Events  since  the  Civil  War, 292 

Declaration  of  Independence. 
Constitution  of  the  United  States. 


JOHN  S.  PRELL 

l  &  Mechanical  Engineer. 

SAN  FRAK  CISCO,  GAL. 


AMERICAN  HISTORY. 


CHAPTER  I. 
THE    WESTERN  CONTINENT. 

The  Fifteenth  Century  (extending  from  1400  to  1500 
A.  D.)  was  an  era  of  great  changes  in  Europe.  It  put  an 
end  to  the  darkness  of  the  Middle  Ages.  It  witnessed  the 
revival  of  learning  and  science,  and  the  birth  of  many  use 
ful  arts,  among  which  not  the  least  was  Printing.  The  in 
vention  of  the  Mariner's  Compass  in  the  preceding  century 
having  enabled  sailors  to  go  out  of  sight  of  land,  a  thirst 
for  exploring  unknown  seas  was  awakened.  Long  voyages 
were  undertaken,  and  important  discoveries  made.  It  was 
in  this  age  of  mental  activity  and  growing  knowledge  that 
AMERICA  WAS  DISCOVERED. 

America  is  often  called  the  New  World;  not  that  it  is 
younger  than  the  other  continents,  but  because  at  the  time 
of  its  discovery  in  1492  it  was  unknown,  or  new,  to  Euro 
peans.  It  is  also  called  the  Western  Continent,  to  distin 
guish  it  from  the  Eastern,  which  embraces  Europe,  Asia, 
and  Africa, — and  the  South-eastern,  or  Australia. 

Position  of  the  Western  Continent. — The  map  on  the  next 
page  shows  how  these  continents  lie.  The  Western  is  sep 
arated  from  the  Eastern,  on  one  side  by  the  Atlantic  Ocean, 
varying  in  width  from  800  to  3,600  miles  ;  and  on  the  other, 
by  the  Pacific. 

The  Pacific,  from  its  greatest  width  of  10,000  miles  nar- 


6 


THE   WESTERN   CONTINENT. 


rows  toward  the  north  by  reason  of  the  convergence  of  the 
shores.  It  will  be  seen  from  the  map  that  the  north-west 
ern  point  of  the  Western  Continent  approaches  very  near 
to  the  north-eastern  extremity  of  Asia.  Behring  (beer' ing) 
Strait,  which  separates  them,  at  its  narrowest  part,  is  only 
thirty-six  miles  wide. 


Size.— Divisions, — The  Western  Continent  includes  more 
than  one-fourth  of  the  land-surface  of  the  earth.  ]t  is 
nearly  divided  by  an  arm  of  the  Atlantic  into  two  parts,  dis 
tinguished  as  North  and  South  America,  connected  by  the 
Isthmus  of  Panama  (pan-a-mahf),  or  Darien'. 

The  present  territory  of  the  United  States  embraces 
nearly  half  of  North  America,  and  one-fourth  of  the  entire 
continent.  The  other  half  of  North  America  is  composed 
of  the  British  Possessions,  Mexico,  and  the  republics  of 
Central  America.  In  South  America  are  included  the  em 
pire  of  Brazil  and  a  number  of  independent  republics. 

Natural  Features. — The  natural  features  of  the  New 
World  are  on  the  grandest  scale.  Its  lakes  and  rivers,  un 
surpassed  in  size  and  number,  afford  wonderful  facilities  for 
inland  navigation.  It  is  traversed  throughout  its  length  by 
a  vast  mountain-chain,  containing  numerous  snow-crowned 


ANIMAL    LIFE. 


peaks  and  volcanoes  of  stupendous  grandeur.  From  this 
great  chain  spread  out  immense  table-lands,  which  lose 
themselves  in  low  plains  rendered  fruitful  by  the  streams 
that  intersect  them.  Six-sevenths  of  the  soil  is  capable  of 
cultivation,  and  much  of  it  is  unsurpassed  in  fertility.  In 
valuable  fields  of  coal,  and  rich  deposits  of  the  useful  and 
precious  metals,  are  found  in  various  parts. 

Animal  Life. — Remains  found  buried  beneath  the  surface 
show  that  gigantic  animals,  now  extinct,  once  inhabited  the 
Western  Continent.  Among  these  were  the  mammoth,  a 
clumsy,  hairy  ani 
mal  resembling 
the  elephant,  — 
the  mas'todon, 
similar  in  appear 
ance  but  larger, 
with  tusks  over 
ten  feet  long, — 
and  a  tenant  of 
the  waters,  seven 
ty  feet  in  length. 

The  wild  ani 
mals  now  found 
in  America,  how 
ever,  are  mostly  inferior  to  the  corresponding  ones  of  the 
Old  World.  The  lion  of  the  Eastern  Continent  is  here  re 
placed  by  the  puma  (panther,  or  cougar),  the  tiger  by  the 
jag'uar,  the  rhinoceros  by  the  tapir,  the  camel  by  the  llama. 
But  to  the  New  World  belong  the  largest  members  of  the 
bear  and  the  deer  family. 

The  horse,  the  ox,  and  other  domestic  animals,  were  in 
troduced  by  Europeans  after  the  discovery  of  the  continent. 
Among  birds,  the  wild-turkey,  the  toucan,  and  the  humming 
bird  are  peculiar  to  America. 

Discovery  by  Norsemen. — We   have  said  that   America 


THE  MAMMOTH. 


8 


THE   WESTERN   CONTINENT. 


was  discovered  in  the  fifteenth  century;  but  the  northern 
parts  of  the  continent  were  known  to  the  bold  sailors  of 
Norway  nearly  fivre  hundred  years  before.  Iceland  (see 
Map  below),  discovered  by  accident,  was  colonized  by  these 
Norsemen  (Northmen)  in  874 ;  and  somewhat  later  a  Nor 
wegian  navigator,  attempting  to  reach  the  island,  was  driven 


by  a  storm  to  the  south-west.  Here  he  discovered  a  snowy 
headland,  which  he  named  Hvidsaerk  (white  shirt),  and 
which  is  now  known  as  Cape  Farewell,  the  southern  extrem 
ity  of  Greenland. 

No  attempt  to  follow  up  this  discovery  appears  to  have 
been  made  for  more  than  a  hundred  years  ;  till  finally  Red 
Er'ic,  compelled  to  fly  from  Iceland,  sought  this  distant 
coast  of  which  traditions  were  still  preserved,  found  it,  and 
spent  three  years  in  exploring  the  surrounding  waters. 
Through  his  efforts,  the  Greenland  coast  was  speedily  set 
tled  ;  and  in  the  year  1000  one  of  Eric's  sons  sailed  thence 
to  the  south-west  in  quest  of  new  discoveries.  He  coasted 
the  mainland  for  many  miles,  sighted  Cape  Cod,  and  finally 
wintered  in  what  he  called  Vinland  (vine-land),  supposed 
to  be  identical  with  parts  of  Rhode  Island  and  Massachu 
setts. 


SCANDINAVIAN   SETTLEMENTS.  9 

Many  subsequent  voyages  were  made  to  the  American 
mainland  for  wood,  and  it  was  even  attempted  to  plant  a 
permanent  colony  in  Vinland, — but  without  success,  on  ac 
count  of  the  hostility  of  the  natives. 

After  three  centuries  of  prosperity,  however,  the  Scan 
dinavian  colonies  in  Greenland  began  to  decay.  Emigration 
thither  was  forbidden  ;  "  the  black  death  "  carried  off  many 
of  the  people,  and  the  rest  fell  victims  to  the  natives,  and  to 
a  piratical  fleet  which  made  a  descent  upon  the  coast.  With 
the  unfortunate  colonists  died  out  all  knowledge  of  Vinland, 
except  what  was  buried  in  Icelandic  records  and  traditions. 
The  Western  Continent,  once  more  lost  to  the  civilized 
world,  remained  to  be  rediscovered  by  the  genius  of  CO 
LUMBUS. 

QUESTIONS  ON  THE  MAPS. 

Map,  p.  6. — Which  is  the  largest  of  the  three  continents  shown? 
Which  is  the  smallest  ?  Which  extends  farthest  south  ?  What  would  be 
the  most  direct  way  of  reaching  the  Western  Continent  from  Europe  ? 
From  Africa  ?  From  Asia  ?  Which  of  the  oceans  is  the  largest  ?  What 
part  of  the  Pacific  is  broadest  ?  What  part  is  narrowest  ?  What  three 
grand  divisions  constitute  the  Old  World  ?  What  two,  the  New  World  ? 

Map,  p.  8 What   were    Norway  and    Sweden    anciently   called  ? 

What  islands  lie  about  midway  between  Norway  and  Iceland?  In  what 
part  of  Greenland  were  the  Norse  settlements  ?  What  land  south-west  from 
Greenland  ?  Describe  the  route  of  the  Norsemen  to  the  New  World. 


CHAPTER   II. 

DISCOVERIES    OF    COLUMBUS. 

Christopher  Columbus  was  born  about  1435,  at  Genoa, 
then  one  of  the  leading  commercial  cities  of  Italy.  Well 
grounded  in  geography,  astronomy,  and  navigation,  at  the 


10  DISCOVERIES    OF    COLUMBUS. 

age  of  fourteen  he  went  to  sea,  and  for  the  next  twenty- 
eight  years  was  engaged  in  various  voyages, —  extending 
beyond  Iceland  on  the  north,  southward  to  Guinea,  and  as 
far  west  as  the  Azores',  which  islands  the  Portuguese  had 
discovered  shortly  before. 

The  profitable  East  Indian  trade,  carried  on  at  this  time 
by  way  of  the  Mediterranean  and  the  Red  Sea,  was  chiefly 
in  the  hands  of  Venice.  The  two  most  enterprising  mari 
time  countries  were  Portugal  and  Spain.  Portuguese  navi 
gators  had  coasted  Africa  to  its  southern  extremity  ;  which, 
in  the  anticipation  of  reaching  the  Indies  by  rounding  it, 
they  had  called  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  Their  voyages 
had  proved  that  the  earth  was  not,  as  once  believed,  encir 
cled  by  a  belt  of  impassable  heat  at  the  equator  ;  but  super 
stitious  fears  of  terrible  storms,  frightful  monsters,  and  a 
"  Sea  of  Darkness  "  out  of  which  a  gigantic  hand  would  rise 
to  crush  the  too  venturesome  mariner,  had  prevented  any 
attempts  to  explore  the  western  waters  of  the  Atlantic. 

The  shape  of  the  earth  and  its  revolution  round  the  sun 
had  not  at  this  time  been  established.  Most  that  was  known 
of  Eastern  Asia  was  derived  from  the  wonderful  stories  of 
Marco  Polo,  who  had  drawn  lively  pictures  of  Cathay'  (Chi 
na),  with  its  mountains  of  precious  stones  and  lakes  of 
pearls, —  and  of  Cipango  (Japan),  with  its  golden-floored 
palace  and  other  marvels  of  wealth — but  had  conveyed  lit 
tle  geographical  knowledge  that  could  be  relied  on. 

The  studies  of  Columbus  had  convinced  him  that  the 
earth  was  round  ;  and,  supposing  it  to  be  much  smaller  than 
it  really  is,  he  believed  that  Asia  could  be  easily  reached  by 
standing  boldly  out  across  the  unknown  Atlantic. 

\rarious  objects  evidently  not  of  European  origin  had 
been  driven  by  west  winds  on  the  Azores  ;  among  them,  the 
bodies  of  two  men  that  seemed  of  a  new  race.  Whence 
could  they  come,  but  from  some  land  across  the  ocean? 
This  land  Columbus  determined  to  reach  ;  but  he  was  poor 


HIS   FIRST   VOYAGE.  11 

— he  had  no  ships.  He  must  enlist  some  state  in  the  enter 
prise,  and  thus  obtain  the  necessary  outfit.  Full  of  religious 
enthusiasm,  he  regarded  this  voyage  to  the  western  seas  as 
his  peculiar  mission,  and  himself  (as  his  name  CHRISTOPHER 
imports)  the  appointed  Christ-bearer,  or  Gospel-bearer,  to 
the  natives  of  the  new  lands  he  felt  that  he  was  destined 
to  discover. 

First  Voyage  of  Columbus. — After  unsuccessful  negotia 
tions  with  the  king  of  Portugal,  Columbus  in  1484  betook 
himself  to  the  court  of  Spain.  Ferdinand  and  Isabella, 
the  sovereigns  of  that  country,  were  then  warring  with 
the  Moors,  and  their  treasury  was  wellnigh  exhausted.  Yet 
Isabella,  though  the  plans  of  Columbus  after  years  of  dis 
couraging  delay  were  condemned  as  visionary  by  a  council 
of  her  learned  men,  was  at  length  persuaded  to  fit  out  two 
vessels  for  the  voyage.  To  these  small  car'avels,  which  had 
no  decks  and  would  now  be  regarded  as  unfit  even  for  coast 
ing  purposes,  Columbus,  with  the  aid  of  his  friends,  added  a 
third  and  larger  vessel.  Men  having  with  difficulty  been 
obtained,  and  Columbus  having  been  furnished  with  a  letter 
from  the  king  and  queen  to  the  Grand  Khan  of  Tartary,  the 
little  squadron  sailed  August  3,  1492,  from  Palos  (pah'loce), 
a  seaport  on  the  south-western  coast  of  Spain. 

The  trials  of  the  voyage  commenced  when  the  farthest 
land  of  the  Canaries  faded  from  sight  (September  9th). 
Then  the  hearts  of  the  sailors  failed,  and  many  gave  way  to 
tears.  Columbus  vainly  strove  to  quiet  their  fears  ;  and 
when,  after  many  days  passed  without  sight  of  the  ex 
pected  land,  it  was  found  that  the  needle  varied  from  the 
north,  despair  almost  drove  them  to  mutiny  and  throw  their 
commander  overboard.  Columbus,  however,  kept  on  with 
unfaltering  faith  ;  and  soon, to  his  delight,  indications  of  the 
neighborhood  of  land  appeared.  Watching  throughout  the 
night  himself  in  eager  expectation,  he  beheld  a  dim  moving 
light.  The  joyful  cry  of  "LAND  !"  was  raised  ;  and  when 


12 


DISCOVERIES    OF   COLUMBUS. 


clay  dawned  (October  12th),  a  wooded  island  was  seen  in  the 
distance,  with  wondering  natives  crowded  on  the  shore. 

At  sunrise  Columbus  and  his  officers  landed.  His  first 
act  was  to  kneel  down,  and  thank  God  with  tears  ;  his  sec 
ond,  to  unfurl  the  royal  banner  and  take  possession  of  the 


EECEPTION  OP  COLUMBUS  BY  FERDINAND  AND  ISABELLA,  OK  HIS  EETURN. 

country  in  the  name  of  his  sovereigns,  receiving  the  homage 
of  his  men,  and  of  the  natives,  who  looked  upon  the  Span 
iards  as  gods  come  down  to  earth.  The  land  thus  discovered 
was  San  Salvador',  or  Guanahani  (ywah-nah-hah'ne),  one 
of  the  Baha'mas  (see  Map,  p.  38). 

Columbus'  next  directed  his  course  to  the  south,  and  dis 
covered  Cuba,  Hispanio'la — now  called  Hayti  (ha'te) — and 


HIS    LATER   VOYAGES.  13 

other  islands.  On  Hispaniola  he  left  some  of  his  men  as  a 
colony  ;  and  setting  out  on  his  return  with  several  of  the 
natives  and  specimen  products  of  the  New  World,  after 
riding  out  a  terrible  storm,  he  reached  Palos  in  safety. 
Roaring  cannon  and  pealing  bells  heralded  his  progress  to 
the  court  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  where  he  was  hailed  as 
the  great  discoverer  of  his  age. 

His  Subsequent  Voyages. — Columbus  made  a  second  voy 
age  in  1493,  taking  out  a  number  of  adventurers  as  settlers  ; 
in  the  course  of  this  expedition,  Jamaica  and  Porto  Rico 
(re'ko)  were  visited.  A  third  voyage  (1498)  resulted  in  the 
discovery  of  Trinidad  and  the  mainland  of  South  America. 
The  object  of  his  fourth  voyage  (1502)  was  to  find  a  pas 
sage  to  India  by  keeping  on  to  the  west.  He  failed  of 
course  in  this,  but  explored  the  coast  of  Central  America  for 
many  miles.  Obliged  to  beach  his  weather-beaten  vessels 
on  the  coast  of  Jamaica,  after  many  hardships  he  succeeded 
in  making  his  way  to  Hispaniola,  and  thence  to  Spain, — 
only  to  find  Queen  Isabella  dead,  Ferdinand  ungrateful,  and 
to  drag  out  his  two  remaining  years  in  poverty  and  gloom. 

To  the  very  close  of  his  life,  Columbus  had  no  idea  that 
he  had  discovered  a  new  continent,  but  supposed  the  lands 
he  had  reached  to  be  outlying  islands  of  India.  In  this 
belief,  he  called  the  natives  Indians. 

Administration  of  Columbus. — In  his  original  commission 
Columbus  had  been  appointed  viceroy  of  all  the  lands  he 
should  discover,  and  in  this  capacity  he  ruled  the  colony 
planted  under  his  auspices  in  Hispaniola.  During  his  long 
absences,  however,  affairs  were  badly  managed,  and  com 
plaints  were  raised  against  his  administration.  The  settlers 
became  rebellious.  The  proud  Spaniards  whom  he  tried  to 
force  to  honest  labor  could  ill  tolerate  the  orders  of  a  for 
eigner  of  humble  birth,  whose  high  honors  they  envied. 
Their  expectations  of  sudden  riches  were  disappointed,  and 
no  less  the  king's,  who  had  hoped  to  swell  his  revenues 


14  DISCOVERIES   OF   COLUMBUS. 

with  the  storied  treasures  of  Cathay.  Nor  did  the  viceroy's 
enslavement  of  the  natives,  who  rapidly  wasted  away  under 
the  cruel  exactions  of  the  Spaniards  and  were  even  exported 
to  Spain  for  sale,  please  the  gentle  Isabella. 

Accordingly,  in  1496  Columbus  found  it  necessary  to 
return  to  Spain,  to  defend  himself  against  the  intrigues  of 
his  enemies.  He  succeeded  in  regaining  the  royal  favor  ; 
but  on  landing  at  Hispaniola  after  his  third  voyage,  he 
found  affairs  worse  than  ever.  Sickness  prevailed  ;  famine 
was  imminent  ;  disorder  was  everywhere.  Hardly  had  he 
resumed  the  reins  of  government,  when  an  agent  of  the 
crown  appeared,  who  treated  the  great  discoverer  as  a  con 
victed  criminal  and  sent  him  back  in  irons  to  Spain. 

His  authority  was  never  restored.  Though  he  was  sent 
out,  as  we  have  seen,  on  a  fourth  voyage,  it  was  with  an 
inferior  outfit  and  without  his  former  powers.  Even  when 
merely  seeking  temporary  safety  from  an  approaching  tem 
pest  in  his  own  harbor  at  Hispaniola,  he  was  peremptorily 
ordered  to  leave  by  the  governor.  It  seems  a  righteous 
retribution  that,  in  the  hurricane  which  followed,  fourteen 
ships  just  sailing  from  the  island  went  to  the  bottom  with 
the  enemies  of  Columbus  and  their  ill-gotten  gains,  while 
the  little  fleet  that  had  been  driven  from  the  harbor  sur 
vived  the  storm. 

Under  the  successors  of  Columbus  the  colony  grew, 
while  the  natives,  wholly  unfit  for  the  hard  labor  imposed 
on  them  by  their  taskmasters,  perished  by  thousands,  and 
in  a  few  years  became  extinct.  To  supply  their  place,  Af 
ricans  were  imported,  and  slavery  became  an  established 
institution  of  the  Spanish  colonies. 

Cuba  was  overrun,  its  natives  were  subdued,  and  various 
Spanish  settlements  made  on  the  island,  early  in  the  six 
teenth  century. 

Name  of  the  New  World. — In  poetry  the  New  World  is 
often  called  COLUMBIA,  and  certainly  that  should  have  been 


NAME   OF   THE   NEW   WORLD.  15 

its  name.  But  the  first  detailed  account  of  the  newly-discov 
ered  lands  was  written  by  Amerigo  Vespucci  (ah-ma-re'go 
ves-poot'she),  a  Florentine  residing  in  Spain.  In  1499  he  fok 
lowed  the  track  of  Columbus  in  a  private  expedition,  and 
on  a  subsequent  voyage,  in  the  service  of  Portugal,  coasted 
South  America  to  its  southern  extremity.  His  letter  at 
tracted  much  attention  ;  and  a  German,  republishing  it  in  a 
geographical  work  in  1507,  gave  the  whole  continent  the 
name  of  AMERICA  from  this  Amerigo,  whom  he  unjustly 
represented  as  its  discoverer. 

CONTEMPORARY  EVENTS  AND  RULERS. 

1492. — AMERICA  DISCOVERED  BY  COLUMBUS. — Granada  (gra-nah '</«), 
the  last  stronghold  of  the  Moors  in  Spain,  taken  by  Ferdinand  and  Isa 
bella.  The  Jews  expelled  from  Spain.  Spain  becomes  a  strong  consoli 
dated  monarchy.  John  II.  king  of  Portugal.  France  a  powerful  kingdom 
under  Charles  VIII.  England  advancing  in  prosperity  under  Henry  VII. 
Alexander  VI.  (Borgia)  elected  pope.  Last  year  of  Lorenzo  the  Magnifi 
cent  in  Florence.  Ivan  III.  (e-vahn')  the  Great,  czar  of  Muscovy  (Russia). 
Copernicus,  the  discoverer  of  the  true  system  of  the  universe,  nineteen 
years  old. 


CHAPTER,  III. 
MO  UND-B  UILDERS.— INDIANS.— ESQ  UIMA  UX. 

The  West  Indian  Natives. — The  natives  whom  Columbus 
found  on  the  islands  he  visited,  were  of  a  different  race  from 
Europeans.  They  were  erect,  well-formed,  and  copper-col 
ored.  They  had  long  black  hair,  but  no  beards  ;  wore  gay 
feather  head-dresses,  but  little  or  no  clothing  ;  were  fond  of 
ornament — gentle,  grateful,  and  friendly  when  well  treated, 
fierce  when  provoked  by  wrong.  The  Red  Men  of  the 
mainland  farther  north,  with  whom  the  subsequent  explor 
ers  came  in  contact,  were  of  the  same  race  and  general  ap- 


16 


THE    MOUND-BUILDERS. 


pearance,  but  warlike  and  ferocious,  crafty  and  treacherous, 
and  more  barbarous  than  the  islanders  in  their  habits  and 
modes  of  life. 

Origin  of  the  Natives. — Whence,  how,  and  when  Amer 
ica  was  first  peopled,  is  unknown.  But  whether  it  was  first 
reached  from  the  Atlantic  coast  of  Europe,  by  vessels  driven 
over  by  stress  of  weather, — or  from  the  Pacific  shores  of 
Asia,  by  wanderers  making  their  way  from  island  to  island, 
. — or  by  crossing  Behring  Strait,  through  which  a  current 
sets  toward  the  American  shore,  and  which  in  severe  sea 
sons  is  frozen  over, — one  thing  is  certain,  that  it  was  settled 
at  a  very  remote  date. 

The  Mound-builders. — Remains  found  in  different  parts  of 
America  show  that,  many  hundred  years  ago,  parts  of  the 
continent  were  thickly  inhabited  by  a  people  possessed  of 

great  mechanical 
and  architectural 
skill,  such  as  the 
later  Indians  have 
never  displayed. 
Among  these  re 
mains  may  be 
mentioned  vases 
of  elegant  pat 
tern,  isinglass 
mirrors,  pipe- 
bowls  with  quaint 


carvings, 


well- 


MOUXD  AT  MARIETTA,  OHIO. 


burned  bricks  laid 
in  fireplaces  and 
chimneys,  and  a 
great  variety  of 
copper  ornaments  and  implements.  These  have  been  found 
at  various  depths  beneath  the  surface  ;  in  some  cases,  under 
trees  that  have  been  growing  for  centuries. 


RELICS    OF    THE    HOUND-BUILDEKS. 


1,  2,  3,  4,  stone  pipe-bo\vls  ;  5,  earth 
en  pipe ;  6,  earthen  vase ;  1,  water-cool 
er  ;  8,  9,  mortar  and  pestle ;    10,  speci 
men  of  pottery;    11,  copper  knife;    12, 
stone  bill,  or  mace  ;  13,  two  awls  of  bone  ;  14, 
stone  hatchet;  15,  drill ;  16,  copper  spear-head; 
17,  stone  arrow-head;    18,  hammer-head;    19, 
copper  wrist-bands ;  20,  instrument  for  making  twine. 

The  most  remarkable  relics,  however,  are  the 
mounds    and    earthworks    which    are    scattered 
through  parts  of   the  United   States,   Mexico,   and 
Central  America,  to  the  number  of  many  thousand, 
and  which  have  procured  for  the  early  race  with  whom  they 
originated  the  name  of  MOUND-BUILDERS. 

These  works  seem  to  have  been  thrown  up  for  purposes 
of  defence,  observation,  or  worship, — or  else  served  as 
burial-places  and  garden-beds.  Some  of  the  mounds  are 
nearly  a  hundred  feet  high  ;  many  of  the  embankments  ex 
tend  for  miles  ;  and,  as  there  were  no  beasts  of  burden  to 


18  THE   MOUND-BUILDEKS. 

draw  the  earth,  multitudes  must  have  engaged  in  their  con 
struction.  To  support  the  workmen  while  thus  laboring, 
other  multitudes  must  have  tilled  the  soil.  From  these 
mounds  many  of  the  relics  just  mentioned  have  been  taken  ; 
also,  half -burned  wood  (perhaps  the  remains  of  altar-fires), 
skeletons  nearly  turned  to  dust,  and  skulls  quite  different 
from  those  of  the  Indians. 

ANIMAL-MOUNDS. — Some  of  the  earthworks  in  Wiscon 
sin,  Iowa,  and  Ohio,  are  especially  curious,  representing  by 
their  shape  different  animals  in  relief, — men  with  out 
stretched  arms,  birds  with  wings  extended,  fish,  and  various 
mathematical  figures.  In  one,  the  form  of  an  elephant  can 
be  distinctly  traced  ;  in  another,  that  of  an  alligator.  A 
third,  over  a  thousand  feet  long,  represents  a  serpent, — the 
body  extended  in  graceful  curves,  the  tail  coiled,  and  the 
open  jaws  enclosing  an  oval  mound  of  regular  outline. 

RUINS. — No  less  interesting  are  the  ruins  of  ancient 
pyramids  and  temples  in  Mexico  and  Central  America,  and 
of  massive  stone  fortresses  in  New  Mexico  and  elsewhere. 
The  sites  selected  for  defence  were  generally  well  chosen  ; 
and  some  of  the  fortifications  were  provided  with  moats, 
parallel  walls,  and  covered  ways,  which  display  great  skill  in 
engineering.  There  is  no  evidence  of  the  use  of  iron  by  the 
mound-builders,  but  they  turned  copper  to  good  account, 
and  drew  largely,  as  do  we,  on  the  rich  deposits  of  this 
metal  near  Lake  Superior.  They  also  carried  on  the  manu 
facture  of  salt  in  Illinois. 

How  these  mound-builders  looked,  unless  they  resembled 
their  own  representations  of  the  human  face  (see  Figure  1, 
p.  17)  we  do  not  know  ;  for  long  before  white  men  first 
reached  America,  they  had  disappeared.  The  Indians,  who 
succeeded  them,  but  possessed  neither  their  civilization  nor 
persevering  industry,  had  no  traditions  that  threw  light 
upon  the  history  of  this  ancient  race. 

The  American  Indians. — That  part  of  America  embraced 


THE   AMERICAN   INDIANS.  19 

within  the  present  limits  of  the  United  States,  when  first 
known  to  Europeans,  was  thinly  inhabited  by  different  In 
dian  tribes.  Those  living  east  of  the  Mississippi  and  south 
of  the  St.  Lawrence  (perhaps  200,000  in  number)  have  been 
arranged,  according  to  their  languages,  in  eight  families,  of 
which  the  Algon'quin  and  Huron-Iroquois  (ir-o-Jcicoy1)  were 
the  most  important.  The  Algonquin  s  covered  the  largest 
territory  (see  Map,  p.  38)  ;  to  this  family  belonged  the  At 
lantic  tribes,  as  far  south  as  Cape  Fear.  The  Huron-Iro 
quois,  distinguished  for  intelligence  and  courage,  occupied 
most  of  the  present  state  of  New  York,  and  extended  be 
yond  Lakes  Erie  and  Ontario.  The  southern  Atlantic  and 
Gulf  tribes  constituted  the  Mobilian  family  ;  while  the  Cher- 
okees  inhabited  the  mountain  fastnesses  of  what  is  now  Ten 
nessee  and  Carolina. 

CHARACTERISTICS. — The  general  characteristics  of  the 
natives  were  the  same.  They  were  mostly  grave  and  taci 
turn,  hospitable,  generous,  brave,  and  possessed  of  wonder 
ful  self-control  in  both  bearing  pain  and  repressing  all  show 
of  joy  or  sorrow.  On  the  other  hand,  they  were  often  de 
ceitful  and  treacherous, — always  cunning  and  suspicious, 
cruel,  improvident,  and  indisposed  to  labor  except  in  war 
and  the  chase.  They  never  forgot  either  a  kindness  or  an 
injury.  They  were  given  to  few  words,  but  their  language 
was  full  of  eloquence.  Their  sight  and  hearing  were  re 
markably  acute.  Nothing  escaped  their  observation,  and 
they  were  singularly  sagacious  in  drawing  conclusions  from 
signs  which  Europeans  would  not  notice  at  all.  For  the 
hunting-grounds  and  graves  of  their  ancestors  they  cher 
ished  a  patriotic  attachment. 

DRESS. — In  summer,  and  in  the  more  southerly  regions, 
the  dress  of  the  Red  Men  was  scanty.  In  winter,  till  the 
pale-faces  supplied  them  with  blankets,  they  wore  robes  of 
skins  cured  by  drying  and  smoking,  and  on  their  feet  moc 
casins  of  deer-skin.  The  women  let  their  long,  coarse,  black 


20  THE   AMERICAN   INDIANS. 

hair  float  over  their  shoulders  ;  the  warriors  plucked  out 
their  thin  beards,  if  any  appeared,  and  generally  removed 
their  hair  with  the  exception  of  the  scalp-lock  on  the  crown. 
Porcupine-quills,  feathers,  and  beads  made  of  clam-shells, 
served  them  as  ornaments.  They  were  in  the  habit  of  paint 
ing  their  bodies,  using  different  colors  and  devices  to  express 
grief  or  exultation,  war  or  peace  ;  also,  of  tattooing  on  the 
chest  the  totem,  or  figure  of  some  animal  or  bird — a  bear, 
deer,  beaver,  turtle,  eagle,  crane,  etc. — the  great  original  of 
which  was  thought  to  be  the  special  guardian  of  their  clan. 

FOOD,  ETC. — Having  neither  iron  implements  nor  domes 
tic  animals  to  help  them,  the  Indians  cultivated  the  soil  but 
little.  They  raised  tobacco  to  smoke  (not  to  chew),  and 
also  produced  small  crops  of  maize,  beans,  and  squashes. 
But  their  principal  food  consisted  of  animals  and  birds  taken 
in  hunting,  and  fish  which  they  speared,  or  caught  with  bone 
hooks  and  rude  nets.  When  food  was  plenty,  they  ate  like 
gluttons,  but  took  no  care  to  provide  for  the  future,  and 
therefore  often  suffered  from  hunger. 

The  Indians  were  extremely  agile  ;  it  was  not  uncom 
mon  for  their  runners  to  go  seventy-five  miles  in  a  single 
day.  Constant  exercise  in  the  open  air  kept  them  for  the 
most  part  healthy.  Pestilences,  however,  would  sometimes 
sweep  through  the  land,  and  these,  with  frequent  wars,  kept 
their  ranks  thinned.  The  doctor,  or  "  medicine-man,"  was 
believed  to  be  endowed  with  supernatural  knowledge.  Be 
sides  his  herbs,  he  used  magical  rites  to  drive  out  the  evil 
spirits  which  were  supposed  to  possess  the  sick. 

Indian  Life. — The  Indian  home  was  a  wigwam,  or  cabin 
made  by  covering  poles  with  skins  or  bark.  A  low  opening 
was  left  for  an  entrance,  and  the  ground  served  for  seat, 
bed,  and  table.  Many  wigwams,  and  sometimes  more  per 
manent  tenements,  were  grouped  together  in  villages.  But 
the  warrior's  life  was  essentially  a  roving  one.  Small  hunt 
ing  or  war  parties,  leaving  their  women  and  children,  would 


IXDIAN    LIFE. 


21 


go  out  for  weeks  together.  During  such  expeditions  they 
were  without  shelter — a  fire  at  night,  to  keep  off  wild  beasts, 
being  their  sole  protection. 


• . J 


The  original  weapons  of 
the  natives  were  the  bow  and 
arrow,  the  spear,  war-club,  and 
stone  hatchet,  or  tomahawk. 
These,  though  rudely  made, 
theyused  with  great  efficiency. 
Their  ingenuity  was  perhaps  best  shown  in  the  construction 
of  light  and  graceful  birch-bark  canoes,  in  which  with  skill 
ful  strokes  of  the  paddle  they  shot  dangerous  rapids  in 
safety. 

Labor  was  looked  on  as  beneath  a  warrior,  and  fell  to 
the  lot  of  his  poor  wife,  or  squaw.     She  not  only  cooked 


22  THE   AMERICAN   INDIANS. 

and  took  care  of  her  little  papoose,  but  carried  the  bag 
gage  on  a  march,  erected  the  wigwam,  gathered  the  wood, 
tilled  the  soil,  and  acted  as  drudge  in  general.  Trade  there 
was  little  or  none.  Wampum,  consisting  of  beads  made 
from  clam-shells,  strung  in  chains  or  fastened  together  in 
belts,  served  as  money,  or  passed  from  hand  to  hand  as  a 
token  of  alliance  or  friendship. 

Government. — Every  tribe  had  its  sa'cJiem,  or  chief,  who 
owed  his  position  sometimes  to  descent,  sometimes  to  supe 
rior  bravery  or  cunning.  In  war  he  was  the  leader  ;  and  at 
the  council-fire,  where  the  braves  gathered  to  consider  im 
portant  questions,  after  smoking  a  long  time  in  silence,  he 
was  the  first  to  deliver  his  opinion.  Ordinarily,  however, 
he  exercised  little  authority,  for  there  were  no  laws,  and 
whoever  suffered  a  wrong  was  allowed  to  avenge  it. 

Children  of  both  sexes  were  taught  to  weave  mats,  string 
wampum,  and  make  bows  and  arrows.  The  boys  were  early 
trained  to  endure  fatigue  and  hunger,  and  to  perform  feats 
requiring  dexterity  and  courage.  They  were  instructed  by 
their  elders  in  the  traditions  of  their  people,  and  as  they 
approached  manhood  were  in  some  tribes  prepared  for  an 
honorable  career  by  long  fasts  and  other  rigorous  ordeals. 

War  was  the  Indian's  favorite  pursuit.  It  was  carried 
on  by  small  parties  and  personal  encounters  ;  the  discipline 
which  enables  large  bodies  to  act  together  was  wanting. 
On  the  war-path,  the  chief  cautiously  led  the  way,  following 
the  trail  of  his  enemies  with  unerring  accuracy.  The  object 
was  to  surprise  the  foe,  and  to  take  as  many  scalps  as  pos 
sible  without  losing  any  in  return. 

A  captive  was  sometimes  adopted  into  the  tribe  of  the 
victors,  but  more  frequently  put  to  death  with  exquisite 
tortures,  which,  to  maintain  his  reputation,  he  had  to  bear 
without  a  groan.  While  his  flesh  was  roasting  in  the  flames, 
he  would  chant  his  war-song,  or  boast  of  his  exploits,  or 
denounce  his  persecutors  as  women  who  knew  not  how  to 


LANGUAGES   AND   PICTURE- WRITING.  23 

torture  a  chief,  or  tell  how  he  had  made  their  bravest  war 
riors  quail  at  the  stake.  Happy  the  sufferer,  if  at  length 
the  tomahawk  of  some  enemy  provoked  beyond  endurance 
cheated  the  flames  of  their  prey. 

The  Indian  Languages  contained  comparatively  few 
words,  for  they  lacked  the  terms  of  art,  science,  and  the 
trades,  as  well  as  names  for  abstract  ideas.  As  spoken,  they 
were  soft  and  musical.  None  of  them  were  written,  for  let 
ters  were  unknown.  Facts,  however,  were  recorded  with 
some  precision,  by  pictures  and  symbols.  These  were  painted 
on  birch-bark  or  chiselled  on  rocks.  The  following  copy  of 
a  bark  letter  will  give  an  idea  of  Indian  picture-writing. 


INDIAN  PICTUBE-WRITTNG. 

This  letter  was  fixed  on  a  pole  by  a  party  of  Sioux  (soo),  who,  under 
the  direction  of  a  United  States  officer,  had  gone  out  to  make  a  treaty  with 
some  Chippewa  hunters,  but  were  disappointed  in  finding  them.  The  scroll 
was  intended  to  let  the  Chippewas  know  that  the  Sioux  had  been  search 
ing  for  them,  and  was  at  once  understood  by  the  Chippewas,  who  came  to 
the  spot  and  read  it  shortly  afterward. 

1  represents  the  United  States  flag ;  2,  the  cantonment  of  the  troops 
3,  the  officer  under  whose  auspices  the  expedition  was  made ;  4,  the  lead 
ing  Sioux  chief ;  5,  the  second  chief,  whose  totem  was  the  black  dog,  in 
command  of  fourteen  lodges  (6) ;  7,  a  third  chief,  with  thirteen  lodges,  and 
a  bale  of  goods  (8)  devoted  to  the  object  of  the  peace ;  9,  a  fourth  chief, 
with  thirteen  lodges  (10). 


THE   AMERICAN   INDIANS. 


Religion. — The  Indians  had  no  idols.  They  worshipped 
as  God  the  mighty  Jtfanitou,  the  ruler  of  all  things.  Many 
believed  also  in  evil  spirits,  and  reverenced  the  sun,  moon, 
stars,  thunder,  fire,  water,  etc.,  as  inferior  divinities. 

A  future  life,  blissful  for  the  upright,  miserable  for  the 
wicked,  was  very  generally  believed  in.  Happy  hunting- 
grounds,  abounding  in  game,  awaited  the  spirit  of  the  good 
Indian  in  the  other  world.  Hence  the  custom  of  burying 
with  the  deceased  his  weapons,  and  whatever  else  it  was 

thought  might  be 
of  use  to  him  in 
the  spirit  -  land. 
Different  modes 
of  burial  pre 
vailed.  In  some 
localities,  the 
bodies  carefully 
wrapped  around 
were  placed  on 
elevated  plat 
forms,  or  sus 
pended  from  the 
branches  of  trees. 
Elsewhere  they 
were  deposited  in  shallow  graves  in  a  sitting  posture,  or  laid 
on  the  surface  of  the  earth  and  covered  with  bark. 

The  Esquimaux. — The  extreme  northern  parts  of  North 
America  were  inhabited  by  a  people  quite  different  from  the 
Indians,  calling  themselves  INNTJITS  (our  folks,  men),  but 
generally  known  as  ESQUIMAUX  (es'ke-mo— -fish-eaters).  It 
was  they  that  helped  to  exterminate  the  Scandinavian  colo 
nies  in  Greenland.  The  Esquimaux  belong  to  the  Mongolian 
race,  and  resemble  the  tribes  of  north-eastern  Asia.  They 
are  short,  dirty  in  their  habits,  dress  in  seal-skins  and  bear 
skins,  and  live  principally  on  raw  animal  food.  Their  dwell- 


INDIAN  BURIAL. 


ANALYTICAL    REVIEW. 


25 


ings  are  either  huts  of  snow,  or  inclosures  of  stone,  raftered 
over  with  walrus-bones  and  roofed  in  with  earth,  hides,  or 
mosses.  They  move  rapidly  from  place  to  place,  on  sleds 
drawn  by  packs  of  hungry,  wolfish-looking  dogs. 


ANALYTICAL,     REVIEW. 


The  following  are  given  as  specimens  of  Analytical  Reviews  that  may  be 
used  with  advantage.  Let  one  of  the  class  place  the  Abstract  on  the  black 
board,  and  the  different  topics  be  assigned  in  turn  to  different  pupils  called 
on  promiscuously,— each  to  tell  all  that  he  knows  about  his  topic  without 
being  questioned. 


TJie  Western  Continent. 

I.  NAMES.     Why  so  called. 
II.  POSITION. 

III.  SIZE. 

IV.  DIVISIONS. 

1.  Natural. 

2.  Political. 

V.  NATURAL  FEATURES. 
VI.  ANIMALS. 

1.  Extinct  species. 

2.  Existing  species. 

a.  Wild. 

b.  Domestic. 
VII.  DISCOVERY. 

1.  By  Norsemen. 

a.  Greenland. 
6.  Vinland. 

2.  By  Columbus. 

a.  Circumstances. 

b.  Contemporary  events 

and  rulers  (p.  15). 
Locate  the  Vinland  of  the  Norse 
men  on  the  Map,  p.  38. 


Natives  of  America. 

I.  MOUND-BUILDERS. 

1.  Remains. 

#.  Specimens  of  art. 

b.  Mounds;  earthworks. 

c.  Fortifications. 

2.  Inference  as  to   their   at 

tainments,  etc. 
II.  INDIANS. 

1.  Principal  families. 

2.  Personal  appearance. 

3.  Characteristics. 

4.  Dress;  painting;  tattooing. 

5.  Food. 

6.  Life;  wigwams. 

7.  Weapons;  canoes. 

8.  Government. 

9.  Early  training, 

10.  Wars ;  torturing  captives. 

11.  Languages;  writing. 

12.  Religion. 

13.  Modes  of  burial. 
III.  ESQUIMAUX.     Description. 


Draw  a  map  showing  the  points  visited  by  Columbus,  and  embracing  the 
West  Indies,  together  with  an  outline  of  the  adjacent  mainland  from  Florida 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Orinoco  River.     Consult  the  Map  on  p.  38. 
2 


26  EARLY   ENGLISH   DISCOVERIES.  [l497 

CHAPTER    IV. 

EARLY  DISCOVERIES  OF  DIFFERENT  NATIONS. 

English  Discoveries. — News  of  the  success  of  Columbus 
spread  like  wildfire  through  Europe,  and  produced  an  ardent 
thirst  for  discovery  among  the  nations.  England  at  this 
time  had  a  smaller  population  than  the  single  city  of  London 
has  at  present,  and  was  just  recovering  from  the  effects  of  a 
long  civil  war  ;  yet  her  thrifty  king,  Henry  VII.,  was  among 
the  first  to  encourage  ventures  in  the  New  World. 

Under  his  commission  to  the  CAB'OTS,  Venetians  resident 
in  Bristol,  two  voyages  were  made.  These  resulted  in  the 
discovery  of  the  mainland  of  America  (1497)  fourteen  months 
before  it  was  seen  by  Columbus,  the  exploration  of  the 
northern  coast  as  far  south  as  Carolina  (1498),  and  the  find 
ing  of  such  "  multitudes  of  big  fishes  "  on  the  Banks  of  New 
foundland  (nu fund-land)  "that  they  sometimes  stopped 
the  ship  ! "  The  Cabots  directed  their  attention  to  the 
north-west,  hoping  to  find  a  passage  to  India  in  that  direc 
tion,  and  the  land  they  first  saw  is  supposed  to  have  been 
Newfoundland  or  Lab'rador.  Great  ice-fields  turned  them 
to  the  south  ;  and  at  various  points  of  the  coast  they  landed 
and  took  possession  of  the  country  for  their  king.  This  was 
the  foundation  of  England's  subsequent  claim.  But  nothing 
immediately  followed  from  these  voyages,  save  the  establish 
ment  of  a  profitable  codfishery. 

Portuguese  Discoveries. — Portugal,  chagrined  at  having 
thrown  away  the  honor  which  the  genius  of  Columbus  re 
flected  on  Spain,  confined  her  efforts  mainly  to  attempts  to 
reach  India  by  doubling  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  This  was 
finally  accomplished  by  VASCO  DA  GAMA  (vah'slco  dah  gah'- 
mah)  in  1497.  In  following  up  his  discovery  with  a  large 
fleet,  CABRAL  (Jcah-brahl'),  carried  far  to  the  west  after 


1500]  EAKLY    SPANISH    DISCOVERIES.  27 

leaving  the  Canaries,  accidentally  discovered  Brazil,  and 
took  possession  of  it  in  the  name  of  his  sovereign. 

Spanish  Discoveries. — Spain  was  naturally  the  most  ex 
cited  by  the  wonderful  stories  told  about  the  New  World, 
with  its  sands  of  precious  stones  and  nuggets  of  gold  as  big 
as  oranges.  As  Columbus  wrote,  there  was  "  not  a  man 
down  to  the  very  tailors  "  that  did  not  want  to  become  a 
discoverer.  The  fever  ran  to  such  a  height  that  some  vil 
lages  were  almost  drained  of  their  inhabitants.  According 
ly,  for  several  years  after  the  death  of  Columbus  (1506)  the 
coast  of  Central  America  and  the  adjacent  isthmus  was 
visited  by  a  host  of  unprincipled  Spanish  adventurers,  who 
cared  for  nothing  but  gold,  and  in  searching  for  it  practised 
all  kinds  of  fraud  and  violence  on  each  other  as  well  as  on 
the  unoffending  natives. 

THE  PACIFIC. — One  of  the  boldest  of  these  adventurers 
was  BALBO'A,  whom  we  read  of  as  successively  loaded  with 
debt  in  Hispaniola, — escaping  thence,  and  supplanting  the 
commander  of  a  little  colony  on  the  Isthmus  of  Darien, — 
searching  the  surrounding  country  for  gold,  and  establish 
ing  his  authority  over  its  native  inhabitants.  Hearing  of  a 
great  sea  to  the  south,  whose  tributary  streams  flowed  over 
beds  of  gold-dust,  he  determined  to  find  it  ;  and  with  his 
stoutest  men  arrayed  in  armor,  and  friendly  Indians  as 
guides,  he  commenced  a  toilsome  expedition  across  the 
isthmus. 

For  many  days  the  little  band  labored  on,  amid  tangled 
forests,  up  ragged  heights,  through  opposing  natives,  whom 
they  attacked  with  bloodhounds  and  mowed  down  with 
their  superior  weapons.  At  length,  foot-sore  and  famished, 
they  reached  the  base  of  the  peak  from  which  the  ocean 
was  said  to  be  visible.  Halting  his  men,  Balboa  climbed  to 
the  summit  alone,  and  there  beheld  spread  out  in  all  its 
majesty  before  him  the  great  Pacific  (1513). 

This  discovery  showed  that  the  new  lands  were  no  part 


28 


DISCOVERY    OF   THE    PACIFIC. 


[1513 


BALBOA'S  FIRST  SIGHT  OF  THE  PACIFIC. 


of  Asia,  but  an  inde 
pendent  continent  —  a 
fact  that  could  no  lon 
ger  be  doubted,  when  in 
1520  MAGEL'LAN,  trav 
ersing  the  strait  since 
called  by  his  name, 
passed  out  into  this  same  ocean,  which  from  its  peaceful 
character  he  called  Pacific,  and  continuing  his  westerly 
course  for  many  miles  finally  reached  what  were  indeed 
outlying  islands  of  Asia.  One  of  Magellan's  ships,  still 
keeping  on  to  the  west  and  rounding  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  finally  reached  Spain,— being  the  first  vessel  to  cir 
cumnavigate  the  globe,  and  thus  prove  that  Columbus  was 
right  in  supposing  the  earth  to  be  round. 

FLORIDA. — A  story  generally  believed,  that  somewhere 


1512]  EXPLORATIONS    OF    FLORIDA.  29 

among  these  western  isles  bubbled  a  fountain  whose  waters 
bestowed  perpetual  youth,  led  PONCE  DE  LEON  (pone'tha 
da  la-on'),  once  a  fellow-voyager  of  Columbus,  to  cruise 
among  the  Baha'mas  in  search  of  it.  Reaching  at  length 
what  he  took  for  a  large  island  (1512),  he  called  it  Florida, 
from  the  Spanish  name  for  Easter-Sunday,  the  day  on  which 
he  landed.  Everywhere  was  a  profusion  of  gay  flowers,  but 
nowhere  the  fabled  fountain ;  bathe  as  he  would  in  every 
inviting  pool,  he  found  himself  no  younger  than  before. 
Made  governor  of  the  land  he  had  discovered,  De  Leon 
subsequently  attempted  to  colonize  it,  but  abandoned  the 
effort  on  being  wounded  by  the  Indians  with  a  poisoned 
arrow. 

After  De  Leon's  time,  Florida  (the  whole  region  north 
of  the  Gulf  being  then  so  called)  was  visited  by  other  Span 
iards  ;  but  they  confined  themselves  mostly  to  explorations 
of  the  coast  as  far  as  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi.  The 
first  attempt  to  penetrate  to  the  interior  was  made  by  DE 
NARVAEZ  (da  nar-vah-eth'),  with  a  well-appointed  force, 
under  a  commission  from  the  Emperor  Charles  V.  (1528). 
Hoping  to  find  rich  cities  and  great  empires  to  spoil,  he 
pressed  on  from  his  point  of  debarkation  on  Tampa  Bay 
(see  Map,  p.  38),  through  tangled  everglades,  till  it  was  un 
certain  whether  famine,  malaria,  or  the  natives,  would  prove 
his  deadliest  enemy. 

Eight  weeks  brought  him  to  the  great  Indian  capital  his 
imagination  had  filled  with  palaces — a  wretched  village  of 
forty  huts  in  the  heart  of  a  swamp.  The  disappointed 
Spaniards  fought  their  way  back  to  the  Gulf ;  but  only  four 
wretched  survivors,  after  wandering  six  years  through  wil 
dernesses  now  embraced  in  Texas  and  Mexico,  reached  their 
countrymen  on  the  Pacific  coast. 

Very  similar  was  the  history  of  a  later  expedition  into 
Florida,  undertaken  in  1539  by  DE  So 'TO,  governor  of  that 
country  and  of  Cuba.  He,  too,  landed  at  Tampa  Bay. 


30 


DE    SOTO  S    EXPEDITION. 


[1539 


His  force  consisted  of  six  hundred  picked  men  armed  cap- 
a-pie,  besides  priests  and  mechanics.  A  forge  with  which 
to  make  new  weapons  as  they  were  needed,  a  herd  of  swine, 
to  serve  as  food  in  the  wilderness,  and  bloodhounds  indispen 
sable  in  Indian-hunts,  formed  part  of  the  equipment.  Start 
ing  in  the  same  direction  as  his  predecessor,  De  Soto  moved 
hither  and  thither  through  northern  Florida,  Georgia,  Ala- 


DEATH  OF  DE  SOTO. 

bama,  and  Mississippi,  as  directed  by  the  natives,  who,  anx 
ious  to  rid  themselves  of  their  oppressors,  always  repre 
sented  the  gold-country  as  just  beyond. 

Desolation  followed  in  the  Spaniards'  path.  The  natives 
with  whom  they  came  in  contact  escaped  death,  only  to  be 
treated  as  slaves  or  beasts  of  burden.  Fields  and  granaries 
were  plundered,  villages  burned,  and  fiendish  cruelties  per- 


1519]  EXPEDITION    OF    CORTEZ.  31 

petrated.  The  Indians  retaliated  as  opportunity  offered, 
and  the  invading  force  was  gradually  diminished. 

After  three  years  of  toilsome  wanderings,  extended  as 
far  west  as  the  present  capital  of  Arkansas,  De  Soto  fell  a 
victim  to  disappointment  and  sickness.  His  body  was  com 
mitted  in  the  darkness  of  night  to  the  great  4<  Father  of 
Waters" — the  Mississippi — which  several  months  before 
(1541)  he  had  discovered.  The  remnants  of  the  party  first 
tried  to  reach  the  nearest  Mexican  settlements  by  land,  but 
failed.  Then,  returning  to  the  Mississippi,  they  renewed 
the  attempt  in  frail  brigantines  of  their  own  construction  ; 
and  crawling  along  the  coast,  half-starved,  their  fine  armor 
exchanged  for  skins,  themselves  "looking  more  like  wild 
beasts  than  men,"  they  at  length  found  safety  among  their 
countrymen. 

MEXICO. — Meanwhile  the  Spaniards,  though  thus  seem 
ingly  shut  out  from  Florida,  were  more  successful  farther 
south.  Several  adventurers  from  Cuba,  touching  at  points 
of  the  Mexican  coast,  had  brought  back  stories  of  a  rich 
and  powerful  nation  in  the  interior.  The  governor  of  Cuba 
determined  on  its  subjugation,  and  placed  at  the  head  of  an 
expedition  for  this  purpose  the  unscrupulous  but  energetic 
COK'TEZ.  Nine  years  before  De  Narvaez  made  his  ill-starred 
descent  on  Florida,  Cortez  landed  with  617  men  ;  and  hav 
ing  founded  the  town  of  Vera  Cruz  (va'rah  Jcroos)  and  sunk 
his  ships  that  retreat  might  be  impossible,  he  pushed  on 
with  his  little  force  for  the  conquest  and  conversion  of  a 
great  empire  numbering  its  inhabitants  by  millions. 

The  earliest  occupants  of  Mexico  of  whom  we  have  any 
knowledge  were  the  Toltecs,  a  people  of  considerable  culture. 
After  a  stay  of  about  four  centuries,  diminished  by  war  and 
pestilence,  the  Toltecs  mostly  withdrew  to  Central  America, 
leaving  sculptured  columns,  massive  aqueducts,  stone  tem 
ples,  and  imposing  pyramids,  as  monuments  of  their  archi 
tectural  skill.  The  few  that  remained,  imparted  much  of 


32 


THE   AZTECS. 


[1519 


their  civilization  to  the  Aztecs,  who  succeeded  them,  and 
who,  having  extended  their  sway  over  the  neighboring  tribes 
during  their  three  hundred  years  of  occupancy,  were  the 
dominant  people  when  the  Spaniards  landed  on  their  coast. 

The  Mexicans  at  this  time  had  many  flourishing  cities,  a 
well-organized  government,  laws,  courts,  public  schools,  hos 
pitals,  an  ingenious  system  of  hieroglyphics,  and  a  literature 
consisting  of  chronological  records  and  other  writings.  They 
were  skillful  cultivators  of  the  soil,  wove  cotton  cloth  for 
garments,  embroidered  with  great  beauty,  and  out  of  the 

gay  plumage  of  tropi 
cal  birds  made  an  ex 
quisite  f  eatherwork  for 
the  hangings  of  apart 
ments  and  their  own 
mantles.  With  iron 
they  were  unacquaint 
ed,  but  lead,  copper, 
silver,  and  gold,  were 
mined  ;  and  from  the 
precious  metals,  as 
well  as  bronze,  were 
made  a  great  variety 
of  graceful  vessels  and 
ornaments  of  unequal 
led  workmanship. 

They  acknowledged 

one  supreme  being,  a4id  many  inferior  divinities,  whose  im 
ages  they  worshipped.  To  the  god  of  war,  human  sacrifices 
were  offered  in  stately  temples  throughout  the  empire. 
Twenty  thousand  captives  are  said  to  have  been  sacrificed 
every  year  in  these  bloody  rites,  their  bodies  being  after 
ward  served  up  at  horrible  banquets.  Five  thousand  priests 
were  attached  to  the  principal  temple  in  the  city  of  Mexico, 
their  capital. — When  Cortez  began  his  invasion,  Montezuma 


AZTEC  WARRIOR  AND  WOMAN. 


1519]  CONQUEST   OF   MEXICO.  33 

(mon-te-zoo'mtf)  was  at  the  head  of  this  great  empire.  He 
claimed  to  be  lord  of  the  world,  and  lived  in  barbaric  splen 
dor.  Six  hundred  nobles  formed  his  retinue.  His  shoes 
were  soled  with  plates  of  gold.  Four  times  each  day  he 
changed  his  dress,  and  never  put  on  the  same  garment 
twice. 

Cortez  was  successful,  but  only  after  two  years  and  a 
half  of  carnage,  cruelty,  and  perfidy.  His  sixteen  mounted 
men  and  few  small  field-pieces  gave  him  an  immense  ad 
vantage.  The  natives,  who  had  never  before  seen  a  horse, 
imagined  that  horse  and  rider  formed  one  mysterious  mon 
ster,  and  looked  on  the  discharges  of  the  guns  as  thunder 
and  lightning  from  the  angry  gods.  Again  and  again  Cortez 
met  the  Mexican  hosts  with  his  insignificant  force — always 
victorious,  except  in  the  terrible  struggles  of  that  "  Dismal 
Night,"  as  the  Spaniards  called  it,  when  for  a  time  he  was 
driven  from  the  capital. 

Montezuma  perished  early  in  the  contest.  The  intrepid 
Guatemozin  (gwah-te-mo'zin),  the  last  of  the  Aztec  em 
perors,  in  vain  put  forth  heroic  efforts  to  save  his  people 
and  his  throne.  The  Spaniards,  re-enforced  by  their  own 
countrymen  and  by  large  numbers  of  the  tributary  nations, 
whom  they  incited  to  throw  off  the  Aztec  yoke,  fought  their 
way  back  to  the  capital,  and  after  destroying  seven-eighths 
of  the  city  and  200,000  of  its  inhabitants,  once  more  became 
its  masters  (August  13,  1521). 

From  this  time  Mexico  was  an  appendage  of  Spain,  and 
in  view  of  its  mineral  treasures  her  most  important  colony. 
Its  territory  was  enlarged  by  the  conquest  of  other  native 
tribes  and  by  explorations  in  Lower  California,  till  it  ex 
tended  1,200  miles  on  the  Atlantic,  1,500  on  the  Pacific. 
Within  four  years  a  new  and  splendid  capital  rose  on  the 
site  of  the  old  city,  400,000  Indians  having  been  set  at  the 
work.  Cortez  was  for  a  time  governor-general  of  New  Spain, 
as  Mexico  was  at  first  called  ;  but  losing  the  favor  of  the 


EXPEDITIONS    OF   PIZARRO. 


Emperor  Charles  V.,  he  returned  to  the  Old  World — with 
out,  however,  obtaining  any  recognition  of  his  claims. 

PERU. — What  Cortez  was  to  Mexico,  PIZAR'RO  was  to 
Peru.     With  less  education  than  Cortez  (for  he  could  nei- 


SEA 


-.  Cape  Horn 
(Jloun.ltU.1016) 


ther  read  nor  write),  but  equally  false,  cruel,  avaricious,  and 
brave,  Pizarro  made  three  expeditions  from  Panama,  on  the 
Pacific  coast,  for  the  subjugation  of  the  rich  empire  of  the 


CONQUEST   OF   PERU.  35 

Incas.  The  first  two  were  unsuccessful ;  but  on  the  third, 
undertaken  in  1531  by  authority  of  the  Emperor  Charles  V., 
with  less  than  two  hundred  men,  he  marched  across  the 
mountains,  and  managed  treacherously  to  seize  the  Peruvian 
Inca,  or  sovereign,  after  massacring  several  thousand  of  his 
unarmed  attendants.  On  promise  of  his  release,  the  Inca 
sent  out  agents  to  strip  his  temples  of  their  decorations, 
and  made  over  to  his  captors  gold  and  silver  to  the  value  of 
seventeen  millions  of  dollars — only  to  find  that  a  Spaniard's 
promise  to  a  heathen  meant  nothing,  and  to  be  put  to  death 
by  his  perfidious  conqueror. 

Taking  advantage  of  the  consternation  that  followed, 
Pizarro  pushed  on  to  the  ancient  capital  Cuzco  (koos'ko), 
noted  for  its  magnificent  temple  of  the  Sun,  the  most  splen 
did  structure  of  the  New  World.  Raising  a  new  Inca  to 
the  throne  as  a  puppet,  the  Spaniards  proceeded  to  pillage 
the  palaces  and  religious  edifices,  to  divide  the  land  among 
themselves,  and  to  parcel  out  the  wretched  natives,  like 
slaves,  for  its  cultivation  or  for  labor  in  the  mines. 

Thus  in  1533  was  brought  under  the  Spanish  yoke 
(though  not  without  a  subsequent  hard  struggle  for  inde 
pendence)  another  vast  empire,  2,500  miles  in  length,  em 
bracing  almost  the  entire  western  coast  of  South  America. 
Its  industrious  and  happy  population  of  millions,  who 
equalled  the  Mexicans  in  civilization  while  their  worship  of 
the  Sun  was  free  from  the  bloody  rites  of  the  Aztec  religion, 
was  reduced  to  the  condition  of  serfs.  A  new  capital,  Lima 
(le'mah — see  Map),  was  built  six  miles  from  a  commodious 
harbor  on  the  coast,  and  other  cities  destined  to  become  im 
portant  marts  were  founded.  Pizarro  for  a  time  ruled  like 
a  king,  but  in  1541  fell  by  the  hands  of  conspirators — a  fit 
ting  end  for  his  life  of  violence. 

SPANISH  EXPLORATIONS.  —  Meanwhile  Central  America 
and  New  Granada  (now  the  United  States  of  Colombia)  had 
been  colonized.  Thus  before  any  other  European  power 


36  FRENCH   DISCOVERIES.  [l523 

save  Portugal  had  established  a  permanent  settlement  on 
the  continent,  the  possessions  of  Spain  extended  from  the 
northern  coast  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  across  the  Isthmus, 
along  the  Pacific  nearly  to  Patagonia.  Under  the  name  of 
Florida,  was  claimed,  besides,  the  rest  of  North  America  as 
far  as  Canada. 

Before  1550,  exploring  parties  had  penetrated  the  Gulf 
of  California  and  the  Colorado  (kol-o-rah 'do)  River  which 
empties  into  it,  had  coasted  Upper  California,  and  made 
their  way  into  the  territory  now  known  as  Arizo'na  and 
New  Mexico.  In  the  last-named  region,  the  Spaniards  first 
met  with  "  a  new  kind  of  ox,  wild  and  fierce,"  the  bison  of 
our  western  plains. 

French  Discoveries. —What  was  France  doing  all  this 
time  ?  Her  fishermen  had  made  many  profitable  voyages  to 
the  Banks  of  Newfoundland  ;  but  nothing  was  done  in  the 
way  of  discovery  till  the  rich  spoils  which  Cortez  sent  home 
to  the  Emperor  Charles  V.  awakened  the  envy  of  his  rival, 
the  French  king,  Francis  I.  The  latter,  declaring  that  *  he 
would  like  to  see  the  clause  in  Adam's  will  which  entitled 
Spain  and  Portugal  to  divide  the  New  World  between  them,' 
sent  out  a  fleet  of  exploration  under  a  Florentine  named 
VEEEAZZANI  (ver-rat-tsah'ne).  This  navigator  sailed  along 
the  coast  from  Carolina  to  Nova  Scotia,  trading  with  the 
natives,  and  taking  formal  possession  of  the  country,  which 
he  called  New  France. 

King  Francis  now  had  enough  to  do  with  his  European 
wars,  so  that  ten  years  elapsed  before  any  more  expeditions 
were  sent  out.  At  length,  in  1534  and  1535,  CAETIEB 
(kar-te-a')  continued  the  work,  sailing  round  Newfoundland, 
and  discovering  a  noble  bay  and  river  to  which  he  gave  the 
name  of  St.  Lawrence.  The  river  he  ascended  to  the  site  of 
the  present  city  of  Montreal.  An  attempt  made  five  years 
later  to  plant  a  French  colony  in  this  northern  region,  failed  ; 
as  did  also  a  similar  undertaking  at  Port  Royal  on  the  south- 


1565]  SETTLEMENTS   IN   FLORIDA.  37 

ern  coast  in  1562,  though  a  fort  was  built  there,  and  the 
country  was  called  Carolina,  in  honor  of  Charles  IX.  of 
France. 

In  1565,  RIBAULT  (re-bo')  came  over,  and  assumed  com 
mand  of  a  colony  of  French  Protestants  that  had  been 
planted  the  year  before  on  the  St.  John's  River,  in  Florida. 
Hardly  had  the  settlement  begun  to  prosper,  when  a  force 
of  Spaniards  under  Melendez  (mOrlen'deth),  who  had  been 
hastily  dispatched  to  punish  this  intrusion  on  Spanish  terri 
tory,  and  who  had  discovered  and  named  the  harbor  of  St. 
Au'gustine  near  by,  surprised  the  French  fort,  and  massacred 
the  settlers,  men  and  women,  young  and  old. 

The  same  fate  befell  the  Spaniards  themselves.  A  French 
soldier  of  renown,  De  Gourgues  (deh  goorg'},  determining  to 
avenge  his  countrymen,  borrowed  from  his  friends  a  sufficient 
sum  to  equip  three  vessels.  With  these  and  a  handful  of 
men,  carefully  concealing  his  purpose,  he  landed  near  the 
scene  of  the  massacre  ;  and  calling  to  his  aid  the  natives, 
whom  Spanish  outrages  had  made  eager  for  vengeance,  he 
fell  on  three  forts  belonging  to  the  enemy,  carried  them  by 
surprise  and  storm,  and  put  the  garrisons  to  death.  Too 
weak  to  await  an  attack  from  the  Spaniards  in  the  neighbor 
hood,  he  then  hastily  recrossed  the  Atlantic. 

Thus  ended  the  French  attempts  at  colonizing  Florida. 
Spain  was  left  in  undisturbed  possession.  St.  Augustine, 
founded  by  Melendez,  is  the  oldest  town  within  the  present 
limits  of  the  United  States. 

CONTEMPORARY  EVENTS  AND  RULERS. 
1  5SO. — The  Spanish  possessions  in  the  New  World,  embracing  the 
West  Indies,  Mexico,  and  western  South  America  from  the  Caribbe'an  Sea 
to  Patagonia,  governed  by  viceroys.  The  mines  of  America  pouring  their 
wealth  into  the  treasury  of  Spain.  A  printing-press,  the  first  in  the  New 
World,  at  work  in  Mexico.  Money  coined  in  Mexico.  Universities  of  Mexi 
co  and  Lima  founded,  1551.  Order  restored  in  Peru,  after  civil  war.  No 
settlements  as  yet  north  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 


MAP  SHOWING  EARLY  DISCOVERIES.  AND  THE  LOCATION  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  INDIAN 


p  38 


EAELY    ENGLISH    VOYAGES.  39 

Portuguese  settlements  in  Brazil ;  San  Salvador  de  Bahia  (bah-e'ah\ 
founded  in  1549,  the  capital.  Portuguese  colonies  in  the  East  Indies  ex 
tensive  and  prosperous.  Spain,  Germany,  and  the  Netherlands,  under  the 
Emperor  Charles  V.  John  III.  king  of  Portugal.  Henry  II.  king  of  France. 
Edward  VI.  king  of  England. 

Review. — Let  one  member  of  the  class  write  on  the  blackboard  the 
names  of  all  the  Spanish  discoverers  mentioned  in  Chapters  II.  and  IV. 
Let  another  place  opposite  to  each  the  name  of  the  country  he  discovered 
or  explored,  and  a  third  supply  the  dates.  Do  the  same  with  the  English, 
Portuguese,  and  French,  discoverers  and  explorers. 


CHAPTER  V. 

EARLY   ENGLISH    VOYAGES.— SETTLEMENT  OF 
VIRGINIA. 

Hawkins.— Hore. — England  had  not  forgotten  the  dis 
coveries  of  her  Cab'ots.  Her  fishermen  had  brought  back 
many  a  good  cargo  from  the  Banks  of  Newfoundland  ;  and 
Sir  John  Hawkins,  the  first  Englishman  to  engage  in  the 
slave-trade  (1562),  had  made  his  voyaging  still  more  profit 
able,  for  he  had  found  that  "  store  of  Negros  "  were  to  be 
had  in  Guinea,  and  that  they  were  "  very  good  marchan- 
dise  "  in  Hispaniola.  But  little  had  been  done  in  the  way 
of  exploration.  A  Londoner  named  Hore,  it  is  true,  with  a 
small  company,  spent  a  summer  in  Newfoundland  during 
the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.  But  they  nearly  starved  to 
death,  and,  on  the  arrival  of  a  French  vessel,  stole  aboard 
and  sailed  off  while  the  crew  were  ashore,  leaving  the  poor 
Frenchmen  to  get  home  as  best  they  could. 

Francis  Drake,  also,  commissioned  by  Queen  Elizabeth, 
had  made  several  voyages  to  the  New  World,  but  it  was 
chiefly  for  the  purpose  of  harrying  the  Spanish  settlements. 
His  most  notable  voyage  lasted  three  years  (1577-1580). 


40  EAELY   ENGLISH   VOYAGES.  [l578 

Sailing  through  the  Strait  of  Magellan,  he  entered  the  Pa 
cific,  capturing  Spanish  galleons  with  their  rich  freight,  and 
pillaging  the  ports  of  Chili  and  Peru.  Afraid  of  encoun 
tering  the  Spaniards  in  superior  force  if  he  retraced  his 
way,  he  kept  on  in  search  of  a  north-east  passage  to  the 
Atlantic,  but  was  at  last  driven  back  by  the  cold  off  the 
coast  of  Oregon.  He  passed  several  weeks  in  the  harbor  of 
San  Francisco,  and  took  possession  of  California,  under  the 
name  of  New  Albion,  in  behalf  of  his  royal  mistress— then 
crossed  the  Pacific,  and  returned  to  England  by  way  of  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope.  Drake  was  thus  the  first  English 
commander  that  circumnavigated  the  globe,  and  Queen 
Elizabeth  showed  her  approval  of  his  enterprise  by  knight 
ing  him  on  the  deck  of  his  own  vessel. 

The  North-west  Passage. — Meanwhile  English  navigators 
became  more  and  more  of  the  opinion  that  the  coveted 
passage  to  Cathay,  which  Spain  had  failed  to  discover  in 
the  south,  would  be  found,  if  at  all,  in  the  north.  FKOB'- 
ISHER  made  three  voyages  in  quest  of  it  (1576-1578).  He 
reached  the  inlet  in  the  far  north  since  called  by  his  name, 
but  found  no  passage  to  the  Indies  ;  and  the  supposed  gold 
ore  with  which  he  filled  his  vessels  for  the  return-voyage, 
turned  out  to  be  nothing  but  worthless  stones. 

Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert,  a  firm  believer  in  the  North-west 
Passage,  after  a  previous  unsuccessful  effort,  sailed  in  1583, 
under  a  charter  from  Queen  Elizabeth,  but  with  the  purpose 
of  colonization  rather  than  discovery.  He  reached  New 
foundland,  read  his  commission  to  the  motley  crowd  of  fish 
ermen  assembled  there,  and  erected  the  arms  of  England. 
Then  turning  south  to  plant  his  colony  in  a  more  genial 
climate,  he  lost  his  largest  vessel  off  the  coast  of  Nova 
Scotia.  Provisions  ran  short,  no  hospitable  haven  appeared, 
and  it  was  decided  to  return  to  England.  But  Gilbert  lived 
not  to  plant  his  colony  ;  the  little  vessel  that  bore  him 
foundered  in  a  storm. 


1585] 


RALEIGH'S    SETTLEMENT. 


Among  the  most  intrepid  searchers  for  the  North-west 
Passage  was  JOHN  DAVIS  (1585-7).  He  made  three  bold 
voyages,  pushing  up  among  the  icebergs  and  floes  west  of 
Greenland  (to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Desolation),  and 
discovering  the  strait  that  still  preserves  his  name  (see 
Map.  p.  8).  But  his  search,  like  that  of  many  a  later  Arc 
tic  explorer,  was  fruitless. 

Raleigh's  Settlement. — Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert's  attempt 
at  colonization  was  promptly  followed  up  by  his  half-brother 
WALTER  RALEIGH,  one  of 
the  great  men  of  the  age, 
under  a  new  patent  from 
Queen  Elizabeth.  An  ex 
ploring  party  sent  out  in 
1584  reached  the  coast  of 
North  Carolina,  and  on  its 
return  drew  such  inviting* 
pictures  of  the  "  sweete, 
fruitfull,  and  wholesome 
soile  "  and  the  "  handsome 
and  goodly  "  natives,  that 
the  Virgin  Queen  knighted 
Raleigh,  and  allowed  him 
to  call  the  land  Virginia 
in  honor  of  herself. 

The  next  year,  a  colony 
was  sent  out  under  Sir  Richard  Grenville,  and  planted  on 
Roanoke  Island,  near  the  entrance  to  Albemarle  Sound  (see 
Map,  p.  42).  But  the  Indians  were  provoked  by  Grenville's 
severity  ;  and  under  Lane,  who  became  governor  on  Gren 
ville's  departure,  their  hostility  and  the  shortness  of  pro 
visions  threatened  to  exterminate  the  colony.  The  arrival 
of  Drake,  fresh  from  the  plunder  of  St.  Augustine,  gave 
the  settlers  an  opportunity  of  returning  to  England.  They 
took  with  them  two  products  of  the  New  World  whose  use 


SETTLEMENT   ON    EOANOKE   ISLAND. 


[1587 


has  since  become  widely  extended — potatoes  and  tobacco. 
Smoking  soon  became  fashionable  at  the  English  court  ; 
even  Queen  Elizabeth  and  her  ladies  are  said  to  have  in 
dulged  in  it. 

An  attempt  to  renew  the  settlement  on  Roanoke  Island 
(1587)  succeeded  no  better.  Such  as  survived  sickness  and 
famine  were  cut  off  by  the  Indians  ;  at  least  so  it  was  sup 
posed,  for  no  traces  of  them  could  ever  be  found  by  those 
who  afterward  visited  the  region.  Raleigh's  means  were 
now  exhausted,  and  his  efforts  to  colonize  Virginia  at  an 
end,  though  he  still  predicted  that  he  should  live  to  see  it 
"an  Inglishe  nation." 

Settlement  of  Virginia. — We  next  hear  of  English  voy 
ages  farther  north,  and  the  discovery  of  Cape  Cod  (1602), 
and  various  bays  and  islands  on  the  coast  of  Maine  (1603). 

The  favorable  reports 
brought  back,  led  once 
more  to  zealous  efforts 
at  colonization.  King 
James  I.  encouraged 
the  movement  by  di 
viding  (1606)  the  whole 
territory  from  the 
mouth  of  the  Cape 
Fear  River  to  the  east 
ern  extremity  of  Maine, 
without  any  limit  on 
the  west,  between  two 
companies  —  the  Lon 
don  Company  to  have 
jurisdiction  over  the 
southern  portion,  the 
Plymouth  Company 
over  the  northern.  The 
latter  at  once  sent  out 


EASTERN  PAKT  OF  LONDON  COMPANY'S  GBANT. 


1607]  SETTLEMENT   OF   VIRGINIA.  43 

settlers  to  New  England,  but  they  did  not  succeed  in  estab 
lishing  themselves  ;  and  the  first  permanent  English  settle 
ment  was  planted  by  the  London  Company  in  Virginia,  in 
1607. 

This  first  English  colony,  consisting  of  105  men,  was  taken 
out  by  Captain  Newport.  Bearing  north  of  Roanoke  Isl 
and,  they  entered  Chesapeake  Bay,  giving  the  names  of  the 
princes  Charles  and  Henry  to  the  capes  at  its  entrance. 
Ascending  a  noble  river,  they  finally  established  themselves 
on  a  peninsula  about  fifty  miles  above  its  .mouth,  calling 
the  river  James,  and  the  settlement  JAMESTOWN,  after  the 
reigning  king.  A  small  party,  intent  on  finding  that  much 
talked-of  passage  to  the  South  Sea,  soon  started  on  a  voy 
age  of  discovery,  and  explored  the  river  fifty  miles  farther, 
to  the  falls  on  which  the  present  city  of  Richmond  is  situ 
ated.  Here,  in  a  village  of  twelve  wigwams,  they  were  well 
received  by  Powhatan',  the  head  of  twenty  native  tribes 
that  occupied  the  adjacent  region. 

The  country  around  Jamestown  was  delightful.  But 
unfortunately  the  new  settlers  wei;e  mostly  "vagabond 
gentlemen,"  not  fond  of  work.  So,  not  long  after  New 
port  returned  to  England,  food  became  scarce.  Sickness 
set  in,  many  died,  dissensions  arose,  affairs  were  badly  man 
aged,  and  it  was  only  by  placing  the  prudent  and  energetic 
SMITH  at  the  head  of  the  infant  colony  that  it  wTas  saved 
from  destruction. 

Captain  John  Smith  has  been  justly  called  "  the  Father 
of  Virginia."  His  previous  life  had  been  full  of  ad.venture. 
As  a  traveller  and  a  soldier,  he  had  seen  much  of  Europe. 
He  had  borne  himself  gallantly  in  divers  wars,  and  had 
received  from  the  Prince  of  Transylvania  a  patent  of  nobil 
ity  and  a  coat  of  arms — a  shield  bearing  three  Turks'  heads 
— in  commemoration  of  his  slaying  three  Turkish  cavaliers, 
whom  he  met  in  single  combat  like  the  knights  of  old. 
Afterward  taken  prisoner,  he  had  been  sent  to  Constanti- 


44  SETTLEMENT   OF   VIRGINIA.  [l608 

nople,  and  thence  to  the  Crimea  as  a  slave.  There,  mad 
dened  by  the  cruel  treatment  he  received,  he  killed  his  Tar 
tar  taskmaster,  exchanged  the  wretched  skins  with  which 
he  had  been  clothed  for  the  dead  man's  garments,  and  made 
his  way  on  horseback  to  a  Russian  garrison.  He  had 
reached  England  in  time  to  seek  with  Newport  a  new  field 
for  adventure  in  America. 

Smith's  measures  were  wise  and  vigorous.  He  main 
tained  discipline,  and  proceeded  to  the  erection  of  suitable 
houses  and  defences.  For  the  purposes  of  trade  and  dis 
covery,  he  undertook  several  voyages  up  the  James  and 
the  Chickahominy.  In  one  of  these,  his  men  having  been 
surprised,  Smith  was  himself  severely  wounded.  But  seiz 
ing  one  of  his  Indian  guides,  he  bound  him  to  his  left  arm 
as  a  buckler  against  the  hostile  arrows  ;  and,  firing  and  re 
treating  by  turns,  would  probably  have  made  good  his 
escape  had  he  not  suddenly  sunk  to  the  waist  in  a  swamp. 
There  was  no  choice  but  to  surrender. 

Admiring  his  bravery,  and  interested  in  his  pocket-com 
pass  and  what  he  told  them  of  the  earth  and  the  stars,  his 
captors  spared  him  for  the  time,  and  carried  him  round  as  a 
curiosity  to  £he  villages  of  their  confederacy  far  and  wide. 
At  length  the  victorious  party  arrived  at  the  court  of  Pow- 
hatan,  and  the  captive  was  doomed  to  die.  The  fatal  war- 
club  was  raised  above  his  head,  when  Pocahontas,  a  favorite 
child  of  the  chief,  whom  Smith  had  pleased  during  the 
hours  of  his  captivity,  rushed  forward  and  interceded  in  his 
behalf.  His  life  was  granted  to  her  prayers,  and  he  was 
soon  once  more  safe  in  Jamestown. 

Matters  there  were  in  a  bad  state,  and  so  continued  in 
spite  of  Newport's  arrival  soon  after  with  a  fresh  company 
of  fortune-seekers.  Like  their  predecessors,  they  were 
averse  to  honest  labor  ;  but  mistaking  for  gold-dust  parti 
cles  of  mica  that  were  found  near  the  mouth  of  a  neighboring 
stream,  they  loaded  Newport's  ship  with  a  worthless  freight 


1608]  EARLY    DAYS   OF   VIRGINIA.  45 

for  the  return-voyage.  Meanwhile  Smith,  who  had  been 
unable  to  repress  this  gold-fever,  made  a  thorough  explora 
tion  of  Chesapeake  Bay  and  its  tributary  rivers.  Three 
months  were  thus  spent,  and  three  thousand  miles  traversed 
in  an  open  boat.  After  his  return  there  was  a  further  ac 
cession  of  numbers,  but  not  of  real  strength,  to  the  colony. 

The  Starving-Time. — All  that  man  could  do  with  the 
wretched  material  at  his  disposal,  Smith  did  for  Virginia. 
It  was  a  sad  day  for  the  colony  when  in  1609  he  was  so 
injured  by  the  accidental  discharge  of  a  bag  of  gunpowder 
as  to  be  obliged  to  return  to  England.  After  his  departure, 
idleness,  improvidence,  and  disorder,  were  followed  by  fam 
ine,  sickness,  and  death.  The  winter  of  1609-10  was  justly 
called  "  the  starving-time."  The  Indians,  no  longer  in  awe 
of  Captain  Smith,  and  provoked  by  the  exactions  of  the 
pale-faces,  refused  to  bring  in  supplies,  fell  on  the  remote 
plantations,  and  even  formed  a  plan  for  destroying  the 
whole  colony.  Out  of  490  persons  whom  Smith  had  left  in 
Virginia,  spring  found  but  sixty  alive,  and  these  almost  at 
the  point  of  perishing. 

Lord  Delaware. — Meanwhile,  under  a  new  charter  which 
extended  the  limits  of  the  colony,  the  virtuous  Lord  Dela 
ware  had  been  made  governor.  In  June,  1610,  the  newly- 
appointed  governor,  coming  up  the  James  River  with  fresh 
immigrants  and  supplies,  intercepted  the  miserable  few  who 
had  survived  the  starving-time,  in  the  act  of  abandoning 
their  settlement.  They  were  persuaded  to  return  ;  and 
from  this  time,  though  Delaware's  administration  was  short, 
for  the  most  part  the  colony  prospered. 

Better  Times. — Those  who  sought  Virginia  under  Lord 
Delaware  were  of  a  better  class,  and  the  bad  habits  that  had 
before  prevailed  in  the  colony  were  laid  aside.  Profanity 
had  been  so  common  in  the  earlier  times  that  Smith  had 
found  it  necessary  to  punish  every  oath  by  making  the 
swearer  hold  up  his  arm  and  throwing  a  pail  of  water  down 


46  EARLY   DAYS   OF   VIRGINIA.  [l610 

his  sleeve  ;  but  now  the  day  was  commenced  with  service  in 
the  little  church,  which  was  kept  dressed  with  wild  flowers. 
Regular  hours  of  labor  were  once  more  required,  and  new 
plantations  were  laid  out.  The  Indians  were  frightened  into 
peace.  As  an  additional  inducement  to  industry,  land  was 
granted  as  individual  property  to  the  settlers,  in  stead  of 
being  held  in  common.  Corn  was  raised  in  abundance. 
Tobacco,  which  had  come  into  such  request  in  England  that 
a  poor  man  would  sometimes  spend  "  4:d.  of  his  day's  earn 
ings  at  night  in  smoke,"  came  to  be  largely  cultivated  for 
export,  even  the  streets  of  Jamestown  contributing  to  the 
crop.  In  the  colony  it  was  used  as  money,  a  pound  of  to 
bacco  being  worth  about  75  cents. 

Marriage  of  Pocahontas.  —  Peaceful  relations  with  the 
Indians  were  strengthened,  in  1613,  by  the  marriage  of 
Pocahontas  to  one  of  the  colonists  named  Rolfe.  This 
amiable  young  Indian  princess,  from  the  day  she  had  saved 
Captain  Smith,  had  been  the  firm  friend  of  the  English, 
bringing  them  corn  in  the  time  of  their  sorest  need,  and 
even  on  one  occasion  by  a  midnight  visit  to  Jamestown  put 
ting  them  on  their  guard  against  a  meditated  attack  by  her 
own  countrymen.  Before  her  marriage  she  was  converted 
from  the  religion  of  her  fathers,  and  baptized  by  the  name  of 
Rebecca.  This  alliance,  securing  Powhatan's  friendship,  was 
of  great  service  to  the  colonists  ;  though  King  James,  who 
had  high  notions  of  royal  blood,  talked  of  punishing  Rolfe 
for  treason,  for  marrying  a  princess  without  his  permission. 
In  London,  whither  her  husband  took  her,  "  the  Lady 
Rebecca"  was  much  admired  for  her  simple  grace.  In  a  few 
months,  however,  she  fell  a  victim  to  the  climate  (1617), 
leaving  an  only  son  whose  descendants  still  live  in  Virginia. 
—  Captain  Smith  survived  by  fourteen  years  the  gentle 
Pocahontas,  who  had  saved  his  life.  He  never  returned  to 
Virginia,  but  explored  the  coast  of  New  England,  which  was 
first  so  called  by  him. 


1619] 


FIRST    GENERAL    ASSEMBLY. 


R"nS-: 

N  ' 


MARRIAGE  OP  POCAHONTAS. 

The  First  General  Assembly.  —  The  laws  by  which  the 
colony  was  governed  were  at  first  drawn  up  in  England,  and 
were  none  of  the  wisest.  Whipping,  piercing  the  tongue 
with  a  bodkin,  branding  on  the  hand,  and  cutting  off  the 
ears,  were  at  one  time  among  the  punishments.  Death  was 
made  the  penalty,  not  only  of  serious  crimes,  but  also  of 
such  slight  offences  as  trading  with  the  Indians  without  a 
license,  and  killing  a  chicken  without  permission  even  though 
it  were  one's  own  property.  But  in  1619  the  colonists  were 
wisely  allowed  a  voice  in  their  own  government.  The  law- 
making  power  was  vested  in  a  General  Assembly,  composed 
of  delegates  from  the  different  boroughs — the  first  repre 
sentative  body  in  the  New  World. 


4:8  EARLY   DAYS    OF   VIRGINIA.  [l619 

Many  now  came  over  with  the  intention  of  residing  per 
manently  in  Virginia,  and  pleasant  homes  began  to  arise. 
Up  to  the  time  of  Newport's  third  voyage  there  had  not 
been  an  Englishwoman  in  Virginia,  and  then  only  two  came 
over ;  so  that  at  first  society  was  rude  enough.  It  was  a 
happy  thought  of  the  Company  to  transport  to  the  colony, 
at  their  own  expense,  a  number  of  agreeable  young  women. 
They  were  eagerly  sought  in  marriage  by  the  planters,  who 
were  glad  to  pay  back  to  the  Company  the  price  of  their 
passage — from  100  to  150  pounds  of  tobacco. 

Negro  Slavery  was  introduced  about  this  time  (1620). 
Twenty  Africans  were  landed  at  Jamestown  from  a  Dutch 
man-of-war,  and  sold  at  auction  to  the  planters.  The  trade 
was  continued,  principally  by  the  Dutch,  and  slavery  thus 
became  an  institution  of  Virginia.  There  was  also  a  system 
of  apprenticeship,  under  which  persons  were  brought  over 
from  England  and  sold  to  service  for  a  term  of  years. — The 
cultivation  of  cotton  commenced  in  1621,  and  the  first  grist 
mill  was  erected  the  following  year. 

Indian  Massacre  of  1622, — On  the  death  of  Powhatan  in 
1618,  his  younger  brother  became  the  head  of  the  confeder 
ate  tribes.  Viewing  with  suspicion  the  increasing  numbers 
of  the  pale-faces,  in  1622  he  laid  a  murderous  plan  for  their 
extermination.  Different  bodies  of  savages  were  to  fall  on 
the  different  settlements  at  an  appointed  hour,  and  not  a 
soul  was  to  be  spared.  The  Indians  to  the  last  kept  up  the 
usual  appearance  of  friendship,  and  in  the  distant  settle 
ments  the  plot  was  carried  out  with  success.  Jamestown 
and  the  neighboring  plantations  were  saved  by  a  Christian 
Indian,  who  the  night  before  revealed  the  conspiracy  to  an 
Englishman  for  whom  he  worked. 

To  this  cruel  massacre,  about  350  men,  women,  and 
children  fell  victims.  It  was  a  heavy  blow,  that  for  a  time 
staggered  the  colony.  Much  sympathy  was  awakened  in 
the  mother-country.  Even  King  James  was  moved,  and 


1624]  VIRGINIA    A   ROYAL    PROVINCE.  49 

sent  over  as  a  present  some  old  arms  that  had  been  laid 
aside  in  the  Tower  of  London  as  good  for  nothing.  Cap 
tain  John  Smith,  who  still  loved  Virginia,  offered  to  go  over 
and  protect  the  colonists  with  his  stout  arm,  if  the  Company 
would  equip  men  for  the  purpose.  But  the  Company  had 
no  money  to  spare  ;  so  the  colonists  had  to  protect  them 
selves.  Bloody  was  the  vengeance  they  wreaked  on  the 
Indians,  hunting  them  from  place  to  place,  burning  their  vil 
lages,  and  killing  a  Red  Man  at  sight  as  they  would  a  snake. 
It  was  ten  years  before  peace  was  re-established. 

Virginia  a  Royal  Province. — King  James  did  not  like  the 
independent  way  in  which  the  London  Company  managed 
their  own  affairs.  Accordingly,  after  ineffectual  attempts 
to  induce  them  to  give  up  their  charter  for  a  new  one,  he 
dissolved  the  Company,  and  Virginia  became  a  royal  prov 
ince  (1624).  The  colonial  Assembly,  however,  was  allowed 
to  exercise  its  former  powers,  and  continued  still  to  do  so 
under  Charles  I.,  who  in  1625  succeeded  his  father  James. 
It  even  went  so  far  as  to  refuse  his  Majesty  a  monopoly  of 
the  tobacco  raised  in  the  colony,  which  he  sought  as  a 
source  of  profit  to  the  crown. 

The  importance  of  Virginia  now  began  to  be  felt. 
People  of  substance  came  over  ;  a  thousand  immigrants 
arrived  in  the  single  year  1627.  They  did  not  congregate 
in  towns,  but  coming  to  till  the  soil  spread  out,  on  large 
farms,  wherever  fertile  lands  invited  them. 

Social  Life. — Things  were  quite  different  250  years  ago 
from  what  they  are  at  present.  In  England,  at  that  time, 
we  are  told,  plastered  walls  were  confined  to  the  houses  of 
the  rich.  Glass  windows  were  so  valuable,  that  when  a 
country-gentleman  went  to  town  for  any  length  of  time  he 
had  the  sashes  taken  out  and  carefully  packed  away;  the 
poor  substituted  for  panes  of  glass  coarse  paper  made  trans 
parent  by  being  soaked  in  oil.  Straw  beds,  with  fagots  for 
pillows,  were  in  common  use.  Mechanics  received  about 
3 


50 


MANNERS    AND   CUSTOMS. 


five  shillings  a  week  for  wages,  and  lived  chiefly  on  hard 
bread  made  out  of  ground  oats  or  rye. 

Wooden  plates  and  pewter  spoons  were  the  ordinary 
table-furniture,  and  fingers  served  in  place  of  forks.  Books 
were  expensive  luxuries.  Education  was  limited ;  very 
few  could  even  spell  correctly.  Husbands  were  in  the 
habit  of  whipping  their  wives,  just  as  masters  did  their  ser 
vants.  Scolding  women  were  seated  on  "the  cucking- 
stool,"  at  the  end  of  a  balanced 
beam,  and  ducked  in  ponds. 
Millers,  when  they  stole  grain 
left  with  them  for  grinding,  and 
other  dishonest  tradesmen,  were 
fastened  bareheaded  on  a  low 
cart,  and  driven  through  the 
town  to  be  hooted  at  and  pelted. 
The  style  of  dress  did  not  ac 
cord  with  the  present  fashions, 
as  may  be  seen  from  the  accom 
panying  engraving. 

These  facts  will  give  some 
idea  of  life  in  the  mother-coun 
try  at  the  commencement  of  the  seventeenth  century.  We 
may  be  sure  it  was  no  better  in  the  colony  of  Virginia. 


ENGLISH  COSTUMES  IN  THE  TIME  OF 
JAMES  I. 


CONTEMPORARY  EVENTS  AND  RULERS. 

16O7, — VIRGINIA  FOUNDED. — Spanish  cities  growing  in  Mexico,  Cen 
tral  America,  and  Peru.  The  mines  of  Mexico  and  Peru  yielding  abun 
dantly  ;  one-fifth  of  their  products  paid  to  the  Spanish  crown.  St.  Au 
gustine,  Florida,  forty-two  years  old.  Portuguese  settlements  in  Brazil. 
Many  of  the  natives  of  Paraguay  living  under  the  restraints  of  civilization, 
through  the  instruction  of  Jesuit  missionaries.  A  French  settlement  at 
Port  Royal,  in  what  is  now  Nova  Scotia.  Henry  Hudson,  searching  for  a 
North-west  Passage,  penetrates  to  within  ten  degrees  of  the  north  pole. 

James  I.  king  of  Great  Britain.  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  under  sentence 
of  death,  on  a  charge  of  treason,  in  the  Tqwer  of  London.  Forty-seven 


DUTCH   MARITIME    ENTEEPEISE.  51 

learned  English  divines  at  work  on  our  present  standard  version  of  the 
Bible.  The  Dutch  the  leading  commercial  nation  of  the  world.  Spain 
declining  in  power,  but  enjoying  the  golden  age  of  its  literature.  Portugal 
under  the  dominion  of  Spain.  Henry  IV.,  of  Navarre,  king  of  France. 

An  age  of  great  men  in  Europe :  Shakespeare,  the  poet,  and  Lord 
Bacon,  the  philosopher,  in  England ;  Kepler,  the  great  astronomer,  in  Ger 
many  ;  Galile'o,  the  distinguished  natural  philosopher,  in  Italy ;  Guido 
(gwe'do)  and  Ru'bens,  the  illustrious  painters.  The  Spanish  people  laughing 
over  "Don  Quixote,"  the  First  Part  of  which  had  been  published  two 
years ;  Cervan'tes,  its  author,  sixty  years  old. 

After  studying  the  Map  on  page  34,  draw  the  Pacific  coast  of  South 
America,  showing  the  extent  of  the  Empire  of  the  Incas,  and  locating  the 
various  cities  founded  in  or  before  the  year  1550. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

DUTCH  SETTLEMENTS.— NEW  FRANCE. 

Maritime  Enterprise  of  the  Dutch. — At  the  commence 
ment  of  the  seventeenth  century,  the  Dutch  (as  the  people 
of  the  United  Netherlands  were  called)  were  masters  of  the 
ocean.  They  could  boast  of  3,000  merchant-vessels  and 
men-of-war,  and  nearly  100,000  seamen.  Engrossing  at  this 
time  most  of  the  Eastern  trade,  they  naturally  desired  to 
find  a  short  passage  to  the  Indies  ;  and  their  navigators 
had  sought  it  by  an  easterly  route,  to  the  north  of  Europe 
and  Asia,  through  the  frozen  wastes  around  Spitzbergen  and 
No'va  Zembla.  But  all  attempts  had  failed  ;  and  one  party, 
detained  hi  the  ice  all  winter,  barely  escaped  with  their 
lives  from  famine  and  the  fierce  attacks  of  polar  bears. 

Hudson's  Discoveries. — Undiscouraged  by  previous  fail 
ures,  the  Dutch  East  India  Company  in  1609  sent  out  Henry 
Hudson,  an  English  captain  of  experience,  with  instructions 
still  to  search  for  a  North-east  Passage.  Unable  to  force 
his  little  vessel,  the  Half-moon,  through  the  ice  in  that 


52 


HUDSON  S    DISCOVERIES. 


[1609 


direction,  Hudson  at  last  struck  a  westerly  course  for  the 
New  World,  hoping  there  to  find  a  North-west  Passage. 
After  exploring  the  northern  coast  and  discovering  Dela 
ware  Bay,  he  was  attracted  by  a  wide  strait  which  he 
thought  might  lead  him  to  Cathay,  and  cast  anchor  inside 
of  Sandy  Hook. 

Passing  up  the  Narrows,  Hudson  next  found  himself  in 

a  spacious  harbor, 
at  the  mouth  of 
the  noble  river 
that  preserves  his 
name.  He  as 
cended  the  Hud 
son  about  150 
miles,  till  its 
shoaling  waters 
convinced  him 
that  this  was  no 
highway  to  the 
Eastern  seas. 

The  Indians 
at  first  took  the 
Half-moon  for  a 
huge  fish,  but  on 
a  nearer  view 
thought  it  must 
be  the  boat  of  the  great  Manitou.  For  the  most  part  they 
were  friendly,  and  gladly  bartered  their  otter  and  beaver 
skins  with  the  sailors  for  knives,  beads,  and  trinkets.  Hud 
son  met  them,  gathered  through  curiosity  from  far  and  near, 
and  in  token  of  his  regard  made  them  drunk  with  the  "  fire 
water  "  which  was  destined  to  prove  so  fatal  to  their  race. 

Hudson  never  revisited  the  pleasant  region  he  had  dis 
covered  ;  but  again  searching  for  a  North-west  Passage 
(1610),  he  traversed  the  great  bay  to  which  his  name  has 


MANHATTAN  ISLAND  AND  YICINITY. 


1014]  DUTCH    SETTLEMENTS.  53 

been  given,  and  perished  in  its  stormy  waters,  having  been 
cast  adrift  in  a  small  boat  by  his  mutinous  crew.  His  dis 
coveries,  however,  gave  the  Netherlands  a  claim  to  the 
country,  and  led  some  merchants  of  Amsterdam  to  fit  out  a 
vessel  for  traffic  with  the  natives.  The  venture  was  suc 
cessful,  and  a  profitable  trade  sprung  up,  of  which  Manhat 
tan  Island  was  the  principal  depot.  By  1614  some  rough 
buildings  and  a  fort  were  erected  there — the  germ  of  the 
present  great  city  of  New  York.  The  infant  settlement  was 
called  New  Amsterdam,  the  whole  region  NEW  NETHER- 
LAXD,  and  the  river  which  Hudson  had  ascended  the  Mauri 
tius,  in  honor  of  Prince  Maurice,  the  Dutch  Stadtholder. 

New  Netherland. — The  active  traders  of  New  Nether- 
land  soon  pushed  through  the  unbroken  forests  that  covered 
the  country,  far  into  the  interior ;  and  its  no  less  enter 
prising  seamen  explored  the  surrounding  waters.  Delaware 
and  Narragansett  Bay  were  visited,  Long  Island  was  cir 
cumnavigated,  and  New  Netherland  was  looked  upon  as  ex 
tending  from  New  France  on  the  north  to  Virginia  on  the 
south.  A  trading-post  was  established  on  an  island  just  be 
low  the  present  city  of  Albany,  in  1615. 

None  but  traders  sought  New  Netherland,  until,  in  spite 
of  England's  remonstrances  against  the  intrusion  on  her  ter 
ritory,  the  Dutch  West  India  Company  was  organized  in 
1621.  Under  its  auspices  there  went  out  a  number  of  fami 
lies  (mostly  Walloons',  Protestant  refugees)  who  settled  at 
New  Amsterdam,  on  Long  Island,  and  the  Jersey  shore.  A 
few  found  their  way  to  the  banks  of  the  Delaware,  others  to 
the  Connecticut,  and  others  again  sailed  up  the  Mauritius 
and  settled  around  Fort  Orange  on  the  site  of  Albany  (1623). 

Minuit's  Administration. — Minuit  became  governor  in 
1626.  He  believed  in  paying  the  Indians  for  their  lands, 
and  gave  them  824  for  the  island  of  Manhattan.  The  Dutch 
were  a  thrifty  people,  and  New  Netherland  prospered. 

The  colony,  however,  did  not  increase  very  fast  ;  in  1628, 


NEW   NETIIERLAND. 


[1628 


Manhattan  contained  less  than  three  hundred  souls.  So  the 
Company  offered  to  any  of  its  members  who  would  be  at  the 
expense  of  planting  a  colony  of  fifty  adults  in  any  part  of 
New  Netherland  except  New  Amsterdam,  a  tract  fronting 
sixteen  miles  on  any  navigable  river  and  as  wide  as  the  occu 
pants  might  need.  The  proprietor,  who  was  required  to  pay 
the  Indians  for  the  land  selected  and  to  support  a  school- 


DUTCH  COSTUMES  AND  ARCHITECTURE,  1600-1C25. 

master  and  minister,  was  invested  with  the  control  of  the 
territory  as  its  "Patrooii"'  or  lord.  Under  this  arrange 
ment,  several  wealthy  Dutch  merchants  became  patroons. 

Individual  settlers,  while  they  were  denied  all  voice  in 
the  government,  were  exempted  from  taxation  for  ten  years, 
and  furnished  with  as  many  "  blacks  "  to  till  the  soil  as  the 
Company  could  supply.  Slavery  was  thus  early  introduced. 

New  France. — We  have  spoken  of  New  France.     This 


1605]  NEW   FRANCE.  55 

was  the  name  given  to  the  northern  territory  settled  at  a 
few  points  by  the  French,  in  following  up  after  many  years 
the  discoveries  of  Cartier  (p.  36).  Port  Royal,  on  the  Bay 
of  Fundy,  was  founded  in  1605,  the  adjacent  parts  of  what 
are  now  Nova  Scotia  and  New  Brunswick  being  called 
Acadia  (see  Map,  p.  56). 

Quebec  was  commenced  on  the  St.  Lawrence  in  1608,  by 
Champlain  (sham-plane'},  who  labored  hard  to  bring  about 
the  colonization  of  the  country,  and  has  been  called  "  the 
Father  of  New  France."  Hearing  of  a  beautiful  lake  in  the 
south,  Champlain,  in  company  with  a  party  of  Canada  In 
dians  on  the  war-path  against  the  Iroquois,  penetrated  to  its 
banks  and  gave  it  his  name. 

REVIEW     BY     DATES. 

Let  the  student  prepare  a  CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD  of  the  principal  events 
in  the  New  World  up  to  the  year  1600,  according  to  the  following 

MODEL. 
1492.   The  New  World  discovered  by  Columbus  (San  Salvador,  Cuba,  Hayti). 

1497.  Mainland  of  North  America  discovered  by  the  Cabots. 

1498.  Mainland  of  South  America  discovered  by  Columbus. 
1507.   The  New  World  first  called  AMERICA. 

1512.  Florida  discovered  by  the  Spaniard  Ponce  do  Leon. 

Continue  the  above  by  recording  the  following  years,  with  the  event  that 
distinguishes  each  (the  word  in  parentheses  will  suggest  it) : — 

1513  (Balboa).  1534  (Cartier).  1565  (St.  Augustine). 

1520  (Magellan).  1541  (De  Soto).  1576  (Frobisher). 

1521  (Cortez).  1549  (Bahia,  p.  39).          1580  (Drake). 
1533  (Pizarro).  1551  (Universities).  1585  (Raleigh). 

If  this  Record  is  drawn  up  in  ink,  preserved,  and  added  to  hereafter  at 
intervals,  as  required,  the  student  will  have,  at  the  end,  a  valuable  Chrono 
logical  Table  of  the  most  important  events  of  American  History,  prepared 
by  himself. 

As  a  review,  the  Chronological  Record  may  be  placed  on  the  black 
board,  and  the  different  events  assigned  in  turn  to  different  pupils, — each 
to  tell  what  he  knows  about  his  topic  without  being  questioned. 


56 


GRANT   TO   PLYMOUTH   COUNCIL. 


[1620 


CHAPTER  VII. 

FIRST  SETTLEMENTS  IN  NEW  ENGLAND. 

The  Council  of  Plymouth. — The  Plymouth  Company, 
having  failed  to  plant  any  permanent  colony  in  North  Vir 
ginia  under  the  charter  received  from  James  L,  was  at 
length  dissolved.  It  was  succeeded  by  the  Council  of  Plym 
outh,  consisting  of  forty  persons  of  wealth  and  rank,  to 
whom  in  1620  the  same  king  granted  the  territory  extend 
ing  from  the  40th  to  the  48th  parallel  of  latitude,  and  from 
the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific. 


IN.Lat.4S 


.NXat.40 


EASTERN  PART  OP  THE  GRANT  TO  THE  COITNCIL  OF  PLYMOUTH. 

This  immense  tract  embraced  more  than  a  million  square 
miles,  and  on  the  east  reached  from  near  the  southern  boun 
dary  of  the  present  state  of  Pennsylvania  to  the  northern 
extremity  of  the  province  of  New  Brunswick.  It  included, 


1620]  THE   PILGRIM   FATHERS.  57 

as  will  be  seen  on  the  map,  a  portion  of  New  France  already 
settled  by  the  French,  as  well  as  the  flourishing  Dutch  col 
ony  of  New  Netherland.  But  what  cared  King  James  for 
that  ?  Had  not  England  the  prior  right  to  lands  which  her 
Cabots  had  discovered  and  taken  possession  of  for  the 
crown  more  than  a  century  before  ? 

The  Pilgrim  Fathers. — Six  days  after  this  liberal  grant 
was  made,  without  any  knowledge  of  the  Council  or  any 
warrant  from  the  king,  a  little  vessel  bearing  101  emigrants, 
who  were  destined  to  make  the  first  permanent  settlement 
in  New  England,  appeared  off  the  coast  of  Cape  Cod.  The 
vessel  was  the  Mayflower.  The  emigrants  were  "the  Pil 
grim  Fathers," — stout-hearted,  energetic  Englishmen,  who 
sought  in  these  western  wilds  freedom  to  worship  God 
according  to  their  own  consciences. 

For  seventy  years  in  England  there  had  been  growing 
up  a  sect  that  had  separated  from  the  established  church, — 
called  in  derision  Puritans,  because  they  professed  to  follow 
the  pure  word  of  God.  The  Puritans  were  stiff  and  formal, 
discountenanced  amusements  and  frivolous  fashions  of  dress, 
— but  were  good  citizens,  hard-working,  temperate,  and 
moral.  In  these  times  it  was  common  in  England,  as  well 
as  in  other  countries,  for  the  rulers  to  persecute  those  who 
differed  from  them  in  religious  belief,  and  the  Puritans  had 
suffered  accordingly.  A  few  had  escaped  to  the  Nether 
lands,  where  for  twelve  years  they  had  enjoyed  liberty  of 
worship.  But  still  looking  upon  themselves  as  "  pilgrims 
in  a  strange  land,"  and  yearning  for  English  institutions 
and  English  laws,  some  of  these  refugees,  with  others  of 
their  creed  in  England,  had  found  the  means  of  embarking 
with  their  wives  and  children  for  the  New  World. 

Plymouth  Colony. — The  Pilgrims  had  meant  to  strike  the 
coast  near  the  mouth  of  the  Hudson,  but  were  carried  far 
ther  north.  After  a  long  voyage  not  without  its  dangers 
and  hardships,  they  finally  anchored  in  a  safe  harbor,  which 


58  FOUNDING   OF   PLYMOUTH.  [l620 

they  called  PLYMOUTH  after  the  last  town  they  had  seen  in 
Old  England.  December  21,  1620,  must  be  remembered  as 
the  date  of  their  landing.  "  Forefathers'  Rock,"  on  which 
they  first  stepped,  now  covered  with  a  handsome  canopy 
of  granite,  still  preserves  the  memory  of  this  event  in  the 
present  town  of  Plymouth. 

Before  disembarking,  the  Pilgrims  solemnly  bound  them 
selves  to  obey  such  laws  as  should  be  enacted,  and  chose  a 
governor.  Their  first  care  was  to  erect  shelters  as  soon  as 
possible.  But  dreary  and  sad  was  the  winter.  Cold  and 
exposure  brought  on  fatal  sickness  ;  at  one  time,  but  seven 
could  stand  on  their  feet.  Before  summer  death  had  carried 
off  half  the  party,  including  Carver,  the  first  governor. 

It  was  well  that  the  natives  did  not  molest  the  settlers 
in  these  trying  days.  There  seemed  to  be  none  in  the 
immediate  neighborhood,  though  graves,  and  buried  corn, 
and  standing  corn-stalks  were  found,  showing  that  the  place 
had  not  long  been  uninhabited.  There  was  a  story  that 
some  years  before  the  Indians  had  boasted  to  a  Frenchman, 
who  threatened  them  with  the  anger  of  God  for  their  cru 
elty,  that  they  were  so  numerous  God  could  not  destroy 
them  if  he  would  ;  and  that  shortly  afterward  a  pestilence 
broke  out,  and  almost  exterminated  the  coast  tribes. 

Early  History, — In  the  spring  several  Indians  visited  the 
little  settlement,  and  a  treaty  was  made  with  the  Wampa- 
no'ags,  the  nearest  tribe  on  the  south-west,  which  remained 
in  force  for  more  than  half  a  century.  Visits  were  inter 
changed  with  their  chief  Mas-sa-soit',  and  a  traffic  with  the 
natives  was  established.  The  formidable  Narragan setts, 
indeed  (see  Map,  p.  62),  numbering  five  thousand  braves, 
sent  in  a  declaration  of  war  (1622),  which  led  the  settlers 
to  erect  stout  palisades  around  their  seven  dwellings  and 
two  public  buildings  ;  but  the  spirited  answer  returned 
frightened  the  natives  and  happily  averted  hostilities. 

Wild-turkeys,  deer,   and   other   game,  helped   to   keep 


1623]  PLYMOUTH   COLONY.  59 

the  Plymouth  colonists  in  food,  and  in  1623  they  observed 
a  day  of  thanksgiving  (the  origin  of  our  annual  festival)  for 
the  fruits  of  the  earth.  Yet  there  was  sore  scarcity  at 
times  ;  and,  the  supply  of  corn  having  once  entirely  given 
out,  life  was  supported  on  lobsters  or  clams,  or  what  few 
fish  they  could  catch  with  their  poor  tackle,  or  the  scanty 
provisions  that  some  passing  vessel  doled  out  at  extrava 
gant  prices.  But  the  Pilgrim  Fathers  bore  their  trials 
patiently,  looking  with -faith  for  better  times — and  better 
times  came. 

In  1623  a  great  stimulus  was  given  to  industry  by  ap 
portioning  the  land  among  the  colonists,  and  allowing  each 
to  retain  the  results  of  his  own  labor.  The  following  year, 
cattle  were  introduced.  In  1627,  by  purchasing  the  rights 
of  their  fellow-stockholders  in  London,  who  had  advanced 
the  necessary  capital,  the  colonists  became  independent, 
though  no  royal  title  protected  them,  and  three  years  elapsed 
before  they  obtained  from  the  Council  a  legal  title  to  their 
lands. 

Growth,  and  Government. — The  Plymouth  colony  grew 
but  slowly  ;  at  the  end  of  ten  years,  the  population 
amounted  to  only  three  hundred.  There  was  no  lack  of 
enterprise,  however.  Exploring  parties  were  sent  out  ;  a 
fishing-station  was  established  at  Cape  Ann,  and  a  patent 
was  obtained  for  a  tract  on  the  banks  of  the  Kennebec. 
The  government  was  purely  democratic.  The  laws,  enacted 
with  entire  independence  of  the  mother-country,  were  exe 
cuted  by  a  governor  elected  by  the  people,  and  all  impor 
tant  questions  were  decided  by  the  whole  body  of  male  in 
habitants.  Not  till  1639  had  so  large  a  territory  become 
settled  as  to  make  a  representative  government  necessary — 
when  a  legislature  was  established,  to  which  each  town  sent 
deputies. 

Religious  services  were  at  first  held  in  the  lower  part  of 
a  square  wooden  building,  put  up  for  a  fort  and  protected 


60 


PLYMOUTH    COLONY. 


PURITANS  MAKCHING  TO  MEETIKC 


by  six  small  cannon 
mounted  on  its  flat 
roof.  On  Sunday 
mornings  the  Pil 
grims  assembled  by  beat  of  drum, 
and  marched  to  meeting  three 
abreast,  each  with  his  musket,  es 
corting  Elder  Brewster,  who  offi 
ciated  as  preacher,  and  the  gov 
ernor  in  his  long  robe.  Men  and  women  occupied  differ 
ent  seats  during  the  service,  and  were  required  to  listen 
attentively  to  the  long  sermon,  which  sometimes  lasted  two 
hours  or  more.  If  one  was  seen  standing  on  a  stool  at 
meeting,  he  was  known  to  be  undergoing  punishment  for 
breaking  some  law,  the  offence  being  specified  on  a  paper 
fastened  to  his  person.  Those  absent  from  church  were 
looked  up  by  officers  ;  if  the  offence  was  persisted  in,  they 
were  liable  to  have  their  feet  put  in  the  stocks,  or  to  be 


MASSACHUSETTS    BAY   COLONY.  61 

stood  up  with  their  necks  stretched  out  in  a  wooden  frame 
called  the  pillory. 

William  Bradford,  Carver's  successor,  served  as  govern 
or  twenty  years.  In  those  days  men  were  not  so  fond  of 
office  as  at  present  ;  for  in  1632  the  colony  had  to  pass  a 
law  laying  a  fine  of  £20  on  any  one  elected  governor  who 
should  refuse  to  serve.  Miles  Standish,  a  man  of  small 
stature  but  of  great  spirit,  was  the  military  leader  of  Plym 
outh. 

Massachusetts  Bay  Colony. — Meanwhile  different  grants 
had  been  obtained  from  the  Council  of  Plymouth,  and  set 
tlements  were  made  at  several  points  on  the  coast  farther 
north — at  Wey  mouth  (see  Map,  p.  62)  in  1622  and  1623 — 
at  Salem  in  1626 — and  at  Chelsea  in  1628.  In  the  year  last 
named,  the  zealous  Endicott  brought  over  a  party  of  Puri 
tans  who  fixed  their  abode  at  Salem.  They  were  followed 
by  others,  who  founded  Charlestown  (1629). 

The  year  1630  was  signalized  by  the  arrival  of  fifteen 
ships  bearing  a  thousand  immigrants  and  the  good  JOHN 
WINTHROP  as  their  governor.  Most  of  the  new-comers  took 
possession  of  an  inviting  peninsula  containing  about  600 
acres  at  the  head  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  called  by  the  In 
dians  Shaiomut,  by  the  English  (from  three  of  its  hills)  Tri- 
mountain.  Their  infant  settlement  they  named  Boston^ 
after  an  English  town  from  which  some  of  the  principal  col 
onists  had  come.  Within  a  few  months,  Dorchester,  Water- 
town,  Roxbury,  Medford,  Lynn,  and  Cambridge,  were  founded. 
Settlements  thus  dotted  the  entire  coast  of  the  MASSACHU 
SETTS*  BAY  COLONY,  as  it  was  called  ;  which,  according  to 
the  terms  of  the  grant,  confirmed  by  royal  charter,  extended 
from  a  line  three  miles  north  of  the  Merrimac  to  three  miles 
south  of  the  Charles.  Boston  was  made  the  capital. 

At  first,  as  had  been  the  case  in  "the  Old  Colony" 
(Plymouth),  sickness  and  scarcity  of  provisions  severely 
*  An  Indian  name,  meaning  "  blue  hills." 


62 


MASSACHUSETTS    BAY    COLONY. 


[1630 


tried  the  new  settlers  ;  but  in  time  their  labors  were  re 
warded  with  prosperity.  Good  crops  were  raised,  mills  estab 
lished,  vessels  built,  and  a  nourishing  coast-trade  was  carried 
.  _  ,  on.  The  people,  assem 


bled 
freely 


in    town-meeting, 
discussed  all  pub 
questions,  laid  taxes 
for  local  purposes,  elect 
ed  town-officers,  and  filled 
vacancies  in  the  Board  of 
Assistants,  —  in    which, 
_    with   the  gov 
ernor,  the  law- 
making  power 
was  for  a  time 
vested.        The 
governor    was 
at  first  elected 
by  this  board  ; 
afterward     by 
the  citizens  di- 
rectly,     the 
right  of  voting 
being   in  1631 

confined  to  church-members.  Ministers  were  supported  at 
the  public  expense,  and  advised  with  the  civil  authorities, 
by  whom  a  general  control  over  religious  as  well  as  other 
matters  was  claimed  and  exercised. 

Settlement  of  Rhode  Island.  —  Against  this  claim,  how 
ever,  one  voice  was  raised.  ROGER  WILLIAMS,  an  earnest 
young  preacher  who  joined  the  colony  in  1631,  held  views 
on  some  points  at  variance  with  those  of  his  Puritan  breth 
ren,  and  boldly  denied  that  the  civil  power  had  any  right  to 
inquire  into  a  man's  belief  or  punish  any  other  than  civil 
offences.  The  Puritan  authorities  could  not  brook  such 


EARLY  SETTLEMENTS  IN  EASTEKN  MASSACHUSETTS. 


1636]  FOUNDING   OF   PROVIDENCE.  63 

dangerous  doctrine.  They  not  only  drove  Roger  Williams 
from  the  pulpit  of  Salem,  but  banished  him  from  the  colony, 
dispatching  men  to  arrest  him  and  put  him  on  board  a  vessel 
bound  for  England.  The  stanch  advocate  of  freedom  of 
opinion,  however,  was  forewarned  in  time  to  make  his  escape. 
Leaving  his  family,  he  started  out  in  the  depth  of  a  New 
England  winter,  to  brave  the  dangers  of  an  unknown  wil 
derness. 

For  more  than  three  months  Williams  endured  the  ex 
tremes  of  cold  and  hunger,  till  at  length  he  found  safety  in 
the  wigwam  of  the  friendly  Massasoit,  at  Mount  Hope  (see 
Map,  p.  64).  In  the  spring  (1636)  he  bought  a  tract  on 
Narragansett  Bay  from  the  natives,  whom  he  regarded  as 
the  rightful  owners  of  the  soil,  and  on  a  favorable  site  began 
a  settlement,  to  which  in  gratitude  for  his  protection  he  gave 
the  name  of  Providence.  To  all  who  would  join  him,  he 
offered  perfect  liberty  of  conscience.  Many  came  from 
Salem  and  elsewhere,  and  the  Providence  Plantation  pros 
pered.  Roger  Williams  was  thus  the  founder  of  RHODE 
ISLAND,  and  there  carrying  out  his  peculiar  religious  views 
established  the  first  Baptist  church  in  America. 

Still  more  serious  religious  troubles  disturbed  the  peace 
of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  Colony  in  1636.  Ann  Hutchin- 
son,  a  woman  of  great  gifts  and  ready  with  the  tongue,  took 
it  upon  her  to  hold  meetings  in  Boston,  at  which  she  de 
nounced  certain  doctrines  of  the  Puritan  ministers  and  ad 
vanced  her  own  in  opposition.  In  vain  for  a  time  was  it 
sought  to  silence  her.  She  drew  over,  not  only  many  of  her 
own  sex,  who  thought  that  she  preached  "better  Gospell 
than  any  of  the  black-coats,"  but  also  some  of  the  leading 
men,  including  even  magistrates  and  the  young  governor, 
Henry  Vane.  The  quarrel  became  hot,  and  the  colony  was 
almost  rent  in  twain.  But  at  length  Mrs.  Hutchinson  was 
brought  to  trial,  and,  in  spite  of  her  claim  to  be  inspired, 
her  teachings  were  condemned  and  she  herself  was  banished. 


64: 


SETTLEMENT   OF   EHODE    ISLAND. 


[1638 


=1 


I      C 


With  a  number  of  her  followers  she  took  refuge  in  the 

charming  island  of  Aquiday 
(ak'we-da],  in  Narragansett 
Bay,  which  by  the  advice  of 
Roger  Williams  was  bought 
from  the  Indians,  for  forty 
fathoms  of  white  wampum, 
twenty  hoes,  and  ten  coats. 
The  Indian  name  was 
changed  to  the  Isle  of 
Rhodes,  and  a  settlement 
commenced  near  the  north 
ern  extremity.  Part  of  the 
settlers  afterward  moved  to 
the  southern  end  of  the 
island,  and  founded  New 
port  in  1639.  The  same 
freedom  of  opinion  was  al 
lowed  here  as  in  Providence ; 
and  in  1644,  a  charter  hav 
ing  been  obtained  by  the 
efforts  of  Roger  Williams,  the  Rhode  Island  and  Providence 
Plantations  were  united. 

Political  Troubles. — There  were  political  as  well  as  re 
ligious  troubles  in  Massachusetts  Bay.  The  arbitrary  con 
duct  of  Charles  I.  drove  so  many  of  his  subjects  to  the  New 
World  that  measures  were  taken  in  England  to  stop  emigra 
tion  ;  and  thus,  it  is  said,  some  of  those  who  afterward  de 
throned  the  king  were  kept  at  home.  Commissioners  hos 
tile  to  the  Puritans  were  also  appointed,  with  absolute 
power  over  the  American  colonies,  to  interfere  with  their 
religious  regulations  and  even  take  away  their  charters. 
The  charter  of  Massachusetts  was  more  than  once  demand 
ed  ;  but  the  authorities  of  the  colony,  while  they  quietly 
prepared  for  resistance,  urged  different  pretexts  for  not  sur- 


iPoint          o      C      IS 


JV 


EIIODE  ISLAND  AND  PROVIDENCE 
PLANTATIONS. 


1622] 


SETTLEMENT   OF   NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 


65 


rendering  it,  until  the  king's  own  troubles  gave  him  enough 
to  do  at  home  without  molesting  his  subjects  across  the 
Atlantic. 

Settlement  of  New  Hampshire. — In  the  mean  time,  north 
and  east  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  Colony,  settlements  had 
been  made  at  various  points  on  or  near  the  coast.  In  1622, 
a  large  tract  beyond  the  Merrimac  was  granted  to  Gorges 
(gor'jez)  and  Mason,  two  enterprising  members  of  the  Coun 
cil  of  Plymouth,  and 
under  their  auspices 
settlements  were  made 
where  Portsmouth  and 
Dover  now  stand,  by 
adventurers  interested 
in  the  fisheries. 

In  1629,  the  do 
main  before  held  in 
common  was  divided 
between  the  two  pro 
prietors.  Mason  ob 
tained  the  part  west 
of  the  Piscat'aqua, 


EAELT  SETTLEMENTS  IN  NEW  HAMPSHIBE 
AND  MAINE. 


and  called  it  NEW 
HAMPSHIRE,  after  the 
English  county  in  which  he  resided.  Emigrants  from  Mas 
sachusetts  Bay  increased  the  population,  and  Exeter  was 
founded  in  1638. 

Maine. — The  country  east  of  the  Piscataqua  was  covered 
by  patents  to  the  indefatigable  Gorges  and  others,  who 
established  a  few  fishing-stations,  Saco  (saw'Jco)  being  the 
most  important.  In  1639,  Gorges  obtained  a  royal  charter 
for  his  tract,  and  gave  it  the  name  of  MAIXE,  probably  to 
distinguish  it  as  "  the  main,"  or  mainland,  from  the  islands 
off  the  coast.  The  Plymouth  people  had  attempted  to 
establish  trading-posts  on  the  Penobscot  and  farther  east  ; 


66 


ANALYTICAL    REVIEW. 


but  the  French,  who  claimed  the  coast  as  far  as  Pem'maquid 
Point,  had  broken  them  up. 

The  New  Hampshire  settlements  came  under  the  juris 
diction  of  Massachusetts  Bay  in  1641,  those  of  Maine  in 
1652.  The  latter  remained  united  with  Massachusetts  dur 
ing  the  whole  period  of  colonial  history,  but  New  Hamp 
shire  was  ultimately  made  a  royal  province  and  independent 
colony.  

ANALYTICAL    REVIEW. 

Let  the  Abstracts  be  placed  on  the  blackboard,  and  each  pupil,  taking 
a  topic  in  turn,  treat  it  exhaustively  without  being  questioned. 


Spanish  Settlements. 

(Pages  13,  14,  27-36.) 
I.  WEST  INDIAN  SETTLEMENTS. 

1.  Hispaniola. 

2.  Cuba. 

II.  EXPLORATIONS  OF  THE  MAINLAND. 

1.  Of  the  Isthmus  of  Darien. 

2.  Of  Florida. 

a.  By  Ponce  de  Leon. 

b.  By  De  Narvaez. 

c.  By  De  Soto. 
HI.  MEXICO.     How  situated  ? 

1.  Early  inhabitants. 

a.  TheToltecs. 

b.  The  Aztecs. 

2.  Invasion  by  the  Spanish. 

3.  Results  of  the  conquest. 

4.  Cortez ;  his  character. 
IV.  EMPIRE  OF  THE  INCAS.    Describe 

it. 

1.  Invasion  by  the  Spanish. 

2.  Peru,  as  a  Spanish  prov 

ince. 

3.  Pizarro ;  his  character,  fate. 
V.  OTHER  EXPLORATIONS  AND  SET 
TLEMENTS  BY  THE  SPANISH. 

VI.  SPANISH  AMERICA  IN  1 550  (p.  37). 


English  Settlements. 

(Pages  26,  39-50,  56-66.) 
I.  EARLY  VOYAGES  OF  NOTE. 

1.  The  Cabots'. 

2.  Drake's. 

3.  Frobisher's. 

4.  Gilbert's. 

5.  Davis's. 

II.  SETTLEMENT  ON  ROANOKE  ISL'D. 

III.  SETTLEMENT  OF  VIRGINIA. 

1.  Adventures  of  Capt.  Smith. 

2.  The  Starving-Time. 

3.  Lord  Delaware's  adminis 

tration. 

4.  Subsequent  history. 

5.  Social  life,  customs,  etc. 

IV.  SETTLEMENT  OF  NEW  ENGLAND. 

1.  Planting  of  Plymouth  Col 

ony. 

a.  Its  history ;  growth. 

b.  Religious  usages. 

2.  Massachusetts  Bay  Colony. 

a.  Origin. 

b.  History. 

3.  Rhode  Island. 

4.  New  Hampshire. 

5.  Maine. 


SETTLEMENT    OF   CONNECTICUT. 


67 


CHAPTER,    Till 

SETTLEMENT  OF  CONNECTICUT,  MAR  YLAND,  AND 
DELA  WARE, 

Settlement  of  Connecticut — The  Dutch  were  the  first  to 
become  acquainted  with  the  rich  valley  of  the  "  Quonekta- 
cat"  (long],  or  Connecticut  River.  Buying  land  from  the 
natives,  they  erected  Fort  Good  Hope,  on  the  present  site  of 
Hartford  (1633),  and  claimed  the  whole  territory  as  belong 
ing  to  New  Netherland.  Hardly  was  this  done,  when  a 
small  company  from  Plymouth  sailed  past  the  fort  in  de 
fiance  of  the  Dutch,  and  planted  themselves  at  Windsor,  six 
miles  farther  up.  Parties  from  Massachusetts  Bay  followed 
in  1635,  and  Wethersfield  was  founded. 


EAELY  SETTLEMENTS  IN  CONNECTICUT. 


Meanwhile  the  Council  of  Plymouth  had  granted  a  patent 
for  the  region  west  of  Narragansett  Bay.  John  Winthrop, 
son  of  the  governor  of  Massachusetts,  and  two  others,  were 
sent  over  to  act  for  the  proprietors  ;  and  a  fort  (Saybrook) 


68  SETTLEMENT   OF   CONNECTICUT.  [l635 

was  built  without  delay  at  the  mouth  of  the  Connecticut. 
The  Dutch  of  New  Amsterdam,  coming  shortly  afterward  to 
take  possession  of  the  same  region,  were  frightened  off,  and 
ultimately  gave  up  the  post  they  had  established  fifty  miles 
above. 

The  last  party  that  emigrated  from  Massachusetts  to  the 
Connecticut  Valley  in  1635,  suffered  untold  hardships  ;  and 
some,  at  the  hazard  of  their  lives,  even  retraced  their  steps 
in  the  depth  of  a  severe  winter.  Yet  the  following  summer, 
the  whole  congregation  of  Cambridge,  led  by  their  minister 
and  driving  their  cattle  before  them,  took  their  way  through 
the  woods  to  Connecticut,  and  made  a  permanent  settlement 
at  Hartford.  The  close  of  the  year  1636  found  about  eight 
hundred  souls  in  the  Connecticut  Valley,  and  an  independent 
government  was  soon  organized.  Thus  originated  the  colony 
of  CONNECTICUT. 

Pequod  War. — The  Indians  were  more  numerous  in  Con 
necticut  than  along  the  Massachusetts  coast.  Particularly 
formidable  were  the  Pe'quods,  whose  strongholds  were  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Thames  (tamz)  River,  while  their  hunting- 
grounds  extended  thence  to  the  Connecticut.  No  sooner 
had  the  settlements  just  mentioned  been  established,  than 
they  were  exposed  to  the  horrors  of  a  war  with  these  fierce 
natives. 

Hostilities  arose  in  this  wise.  In  1634,  the  crew  of  a 
Virginia  trading-vessel  had  been  cut  off  by  the  Pequods  in 
the  Connecticut  River.  Two  years  later,  the  natives  of 
Block  Island  (Map,  p.  67)  had  boarded  the  bark  of  a  New 
England  trader,  and  murdered  its  master.  Without  inquiring 
what  provocation  might  have  been  given  for  these  outrages, 
the  men  of  Massachusetts  Bay  proceeded  to  avenge  them. 
A  descent  was  made  on  Block  Island,  its  wigwams  an'd 
standing  corn  were  destroyed,  and  two  Pequod  villages  on 
the  mainland  were  burned.  The  Pequods  retaliated,  and  the 
exposed  settlements  of  Connecticut  suffered  severely.  At 


1636]  PEQUOD   WAR.  69 

this  juncture,  the  Narragansetts  were  kept  from  joining  their 
red  brethren  only  by  the  efforts  of  the  magnanimous  Roger 
Williams,  who  risked  his  life  to  perform  this  service  for  the 
men  that  had  driven  him  from  Salem. 

War  was  formally  declared  against  the  Pequods  by  the 
authorities  of  Connecticut  in  the  spring  of  1637,  and  a  force 
of  English  and  friendly  Mohegans  under  Captain  Mason 
promptly  took  the  field.  The  principal  Pequod  village 
near  the  Thames  was  surprised,  and  its  occupants  rushed 
from  their  blazing  wigwams,  which  the  English  had  fired, 
only  to  be  shot  down.  A  second  body  of  Pequods,  coming 
from  a  neighboring  fort  to  aid  their  friends,  was  repulsed. 
The  power  of  the  nation  was  thus  completely  broken,  and 
the  disheartened  survivors  were  hunted  from  one  hiding- 
place  to  another,  till  they  were  almost  exterminated. 

The  Colony  of  New  Haven. — Puritans  from  England 
founded  another  colony  on  the  soil  of  Connecticut  in  1638. 
Land  was  obtained  by  treaty  with  the  natives,  and  the  col 
ony  itself,  as  well  as  its  chief  settlement,  was  called  NEW 
HA  VEX.  John  Davenport  was  its  pastor,  and  Theophilus 
Eaton  for  twenty  years  its  governor.  An  Assembly  of  the 
colonists,  held  in  a  barn,  ordained  that  only  church-mem 
bers  should  have  the  full  rights  of  citizens,  and  the  Bible 
was  adopted  as  the  sole  guide  in  public  affairs. 

The  Indian  troubles  over,  both  this  colony  and  Connecti 
cut  (which  absorbed  the  Saybrook  colony  in  1644)  enjoyed 
peace  and  prosperity.  Thriving  villages  sprung  up  ;  and  in 
1665  they  were  all  united  in  the  single  colony  of  Connecti 
cut,  under  a  royal  charter  of  great  liberality  granted  by 
King  Charles  II.  in  1662. 

Puritan  Peculiarities. — By  the  year  1640,  fifty  settle 
ments  had  been  made  in  New  England,  at  an  expense  of  not 
less  than  a  million  dollars.  In  almost  all  of  them,  Puritan 
principles  prevailed.  The  people  generally  were  austere  ; 
they  forbade  dancing,  the  drinking  of  healths,  cards,  and 


70  LIFE   IN   NEW   ENGLAND. 

dice.  Their  laws  in  some  cases  interfered  with  private 
rights.  At  Hartford,  everybody  had  to  get  up  when  he 
heard  the  watchman's  bell  in  the  morning.  No  one  under 
twenty  was  allowed  to  use  tobacco  ;  those  over  that  age 
could  smoke  one  pipe  a  day,  but  only  at  a  distance  of  ten 
miles  from  any  dwelling.  In  Plymouth,  a  fine  of  2s.  was 
imposed  on  any  person  found  smoking  on  the  Lord's-day, 
going  to  or  from  meeting,  or  within  two  miles  of  the  meet 
ing-house.  Citizens  were  liable  to  a  fine,  if  they  did  not  vote. 

To  their  religious  duties,  the  New  Englanders  attended 
rigorously.  At  one  time,  in  Massachusetts  Bay,  there  was  a 
law  against  erecting  a  dwelling  in  a  new  town  more  than  half 
a  mile  away  from  a  meeting-house.  Their  Sabbath,  which  in 
Connecticut  began  at  sunset  on  Saturday,  was  observed  as  a 
strict  day  of  rest. 

Intolerance  in  religion  was  a  fault  of  the  age  ;  we  must 
expect,  therefore,  to  find  it  in  New  England  in  those  early 
days.  Jesuits  were  not  allowed  in  Massachusetts  Bay,  and 
we  shall  presently  see  how  Quakers  were  treated  there.  The 
Puritan  leaders  objected  to  the  cross  in  the  English  flag  ; 
and  on  one  occasion  Endicott,  when  commanding  at  Salem, 
went  so  far  as  to  cut  it  from  his  colors.  The  holidays  of  the 
English  Church  were  their  abhorrence  ;  even  the  eating  of 
mince-pies  on  Christmas  was  denounced  as  wicked. — Under 
lying  all  this  were  an  intense  love  of  liberty  and  an  untiring 
energy,  which  have  impressed  themselves  on  our  national 
character. 

Life  in  New  England. — The  style  of  living  was  at  first 
necessarily  simple.  Extravagance  in  dress  was  expressly 
forbidden,  especially  in  the  matter  of  "  ribands  and  great 
boots."  The  low  houses  of  logs  or  boards,  with  their  small 
prison-like  Avindows,  thatched  roofs,  and  clay-plastered  chim 
neys,  were  not  much  like  the  present  tasteful  dwellings  of 
New  England.  Inside,  the  most  important  apartment  was 
the  great  kitchen  and  sitting-room,  where  the  capacious  fire- 


LIFE    IN    NEW    ENGLAND. 


71 


A  NEW  ENGLAND  KITCHEN  IN  THE  OLDEN  TIME. 

place,  andirons,  and  bellows,  the  crane  and  pot  suspended 
from  it,  showed  that  the  day  of  stoves  was  not  yet.  There 
would  be  found  the  high-backed  settle,  quite  necessary  to 
keep  off  the  wind,  whistling  through  the  crannies  ;  the  mor 
tar  and  pestle,  with  which  the  corn  was  pounded  before  mills 
became  common  ;  the  spinning-wheel,  plied  by  the  good 
mother  as  she  found  leisure  ;  and  the  trusty  firelock  hang 
ing  over  the  mantel,  ever  ready  in  case  of  an  Indian  foray. 

"  Good  man "  and  "  good  woman,"  often  abbreviated 
into  "  goody,"  were  the  common  titles.  Mister  and  Mis 
tress  were  respectful  forms  of  address  for  persons  of  rank 
or  ministers  and  their  wives. 

The  New  England  leaders  were  educated  men,  and  as 
soon  as  it  was  practicable  made  provision  for  schools.  Har 
vard  College,  established  at  Cambridge  in  1637,  was  the  ear- 


72  SETTLEMENT    OF   MARYLAND.  [l632 

liest  institution  of  the  kind  in  the  colonies.  It  was  so  called 
from  the  Rev.  John  Harvard,  who  left  to  it  his  library  and 
half  his  estate.  At  the  same  place  was  set  up  the  first 
printing-press  brought  to  the  colonies  ;  a  version  of  the 
Psalms  in  metre,  long  used  in  the  New  England  churches, 
was  one  of  its  earliest  productions  (1640). 

Settlement  of  Maryland. — Roman  Catholics,  no  less  than 
Puritans,  were  exposed  to  persecution  in  England.  This 
led  the  Catholic  Lord  Baltimore  to  look  for  some  spot  in  the 
New  World  where  those  of  his  creed  might  enjoy  their  wor 
ship  unmolested.  He  tried  Newfoundland,  but  it  was  too 
cold  and  barren.  He  tried  Virginia,  but  found  the  people 
there  more  intolerant  than  in  England.  So  in  1632  he  ob 
tained  from  King  Charles  I.  a  large  tract,  to  which  the  name 
of  MARYLAND  was  given  from  the  queen,  Henrietta  Maria. 

The  same  year,  on  his  father's  death,  Cecil  (ses'il)  Cal- 
vert  became  Lord  Baltimore,  and  succeeded  to  the  grant. 
His  charter  was  most  liberal.  The  colony  was  left  to  gov 
ern  itself,  and  was  to  pay  no  tax  to  the  king,  but  only  a 
royalty  of  one-fifth  of  whatever  gold  and  silver  might  be 
found.  To  all  Christians  perfect  religious  freedom  was 
afterward  guaranteed  by  a  law  of  the  colony. 

In  1634,  a  number  of  Catholic  gentlemen,  with  their  ser 
vants — in  all  about  two  hundred — came  over  from  England 
under  Leonard  Calvert,  the  proprietor's  brother.  Not  far 
from  the  mouth  of  the  Potomac  they  commenced  the  little 
town  of  St.  Mary's,  the  first  in  their  new  colony. 

The  "  Pilgrims  of  St.  Mary's "  treated  the  natives  with 
equity  and  kindness.  Their  chief  troubles  arose  from  one 
Clayborne,  who  had  established  himself  as  a  trader  on  an 
island  in  Chesapeake  Bay,  denied  Lord  Baltimore's  author 
ity,  and  even  menaced  the  new-comers  with  attack.  A  fight 
ensued,  Clayborne's  party  was  defeated,  and  his  island  seized. 
Land-grants  at  low  rents  were  offered  as  inducements  to  set 
tlers,  and  prosperity  smiled  on  the  shores  of  the  Chesapeake. 


1638] 


NEW    SWEDEN. 


73 


The  irrepressible  Clayborne,  indeed,  reappeared  upon  the 
stage,  and,  exciting  a  rebellion  among  the  Marylanders,  for 
a  time  established  his  authority  over  the  entire  colony, — 
but  only  to  be  a  second  time  driven  out  by  Governor  Cal- 
vert,  with  a  force  from  Virginia, 

New  Sweden. — The  first  settlement  in  the  present  state 
of  Delaware  was  made  by  emigrants  from  Holland  (1631), 
who  for  three  years  occupied  a  tract  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Delaware  River,  but  were  cut  off  by  the  Indians.  Perma 
nent  colonization  was  commenced  in  1638,  by  a  party  of 
Protestant  Swedes  under  the  leadership  of  Minuit,  who  had 
entered  the  Swedish  service  after  being  recalled  from  the 
governorship  of  New  Netherland. 


Purchasing  from 
the  natives  a  tract  at 
the  head  of  Delaware 
Bay,  they  gave  it  the 
name  of  NEW  SWE 
DEN,  and  erected 
Fort  Christiana,  so 
called  after  their 

youthful  queen.  Pres- 

,,     .    .       ,  ,         ,,  MARYLAND  AND  NEW  SWEDEN. 

ently  joined  by  others 

from  their  fatherland,  they  pushed  on  up  the  Delaware  till 
they  reached  what  is  now  Southwark,  in  Philadelphia.  Here 
in  the  banks  of  the  river  they  dug  caves,  which  afforded 
them  shelter  for  a  year  or  two,  till  they  were  able  to  build 


74:  A   GENERAL    REVIEW. 

log  huts  plastered  with  mud  and  lighted  by  holes  in  the 
wall.  The  authorities  of  New  Amsterdam  remonstrated 
against  these  intrusions  on  territory  that  they  deemed  their 
own,  but  for  a  time  hesitated  to  resort  to  arms. 


GENERAL     REVIEW    AND     MAP    QUESTIONS. 

(Eefer  to  the  Maps  on  pages  42,  56,  62,  64,  and  67.) 

Write  on  the  blackboard  the  names  of  the  colonies  founded  before 
1640,  in  the  order  of  time,  the  earliest  first. 

Name  them  in  the  order  of  place,  beginning  with  the  most  northerly. 

Describe  the  situation,  and  mention  the  chief  settlements,  of  each. 

In  which  of  the  present  states  of  the  Union  were  settlements  made  at 
this  time  (not  forgetting  St.  Augustine)  ? 

What  colonies  and  settlements  were  named  after  royal  personages  ? 
What  was  the  origin  of  the  name  Massachusetts  ?  New  Hampshire  ?  Provi 
dence  ?  Maine  ?  Connecticut  ?  Mauritius  ?  Delaware  ? 

What  Indians  in  Maine  ?  In  Virginia  ?  In  Plymouth  Colony  ?  Near 
Providence  Plantation  ?  In  Connecticut  ?  To  what  great  family  did  all 
these  tribes  belong  ? 

Where  was  Acadia  ?  Ligonia  ?  Laconia  ?  Mount  Hope  ?  Block  Island  ? 
Pemmaquid  Point  ?  Saco  ?  Portsmouth  ?  Providence  ?  Dover  ?  Exeter  ? 

What  early  settlements  in  Massachusetts,  north  of  Boston  ?  South  of 
Boston  ?  West  of  Boston  ?  On  which  side  of  the  river  were  the  early 
settlements  in  Connecticut  ? 

What  was  the  original  name  of  the  Isle  of  Rhodes?  What  settle 
ments  on  the  Charles  River  ?  On  Massachusetts  Bay  ?  In  New  France  ? 

The  Mauritius  was  sometimes  called  the  North  River,  in  contradistinc 
tion  to  the  Delaware,  or  South  River ;  what  settlements  on  the  former,  and 
what  colony  at  the  mouth  of  the  latter  ? 

Which  of  the  colonies  were  of  Puritan  origin  ?  Which  was  Catholic  ? 
In  which  did  the  Church  of  England  prevail?  In  which,  the  Baptist 
Church  ?  In  which  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church  ?  N.  N.  In  which  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  ?  N.  S. 


Draw  a  map  of  the  eastern  coast  of  Massachusetts,  showing  the  Merri- 
mac  and  Charles  Rivers,  the  Massachusetts  Bay  and  Plymouth  Colonies, 
and  the  chief  settlements  in  each. 

Draw  a  map  of  the  vicinity  of  Jamestown,  showing  the  James,  Chicka- 
hominy,  and  York  Rivers,  Chesapeake  Bay,  and  the  first  permanent  Eng 
lish  settlement  in  America. 


UNION   OF   NEW   ENGLAND   COLONIES.  75 

CHAPTER    IX. 

THE  NEW    WORLD  FROM  1640    TO   1675. 

New  England, — The  most  important  event  of  this  period 
in  the  northern  colonies  was  the  union  of  Massachusetts 
(with  its  New  Hampshire  towns),  Plymouth,  Connecticut, 
and  New  Haven,  in  a  confederacy  called  "  the  United  Colo 
nies  of  New  England."  This  league,  formed  in  1643,  was 
designed  for  mutual  protection  and  attended  with  highly 
beneficial  results.  Questions  of  war  and  peace,  and  the 
management  of  all  foreign  relations,  were  intrusted  to  a 
council  of  two  delegates  (church-members)  from  each  col 
ony.  Massachusetts  was  much  the  most  important  member 
of  the  union,  and  next  to  it  was  Connecticut. 

The  civil  war  between  King  Charles  I.  and  the  English 
Parliament  ended  with  the  overthrow  and  execution  of  the 
monarch.  In  1649  royalty  was  abolished  in  England,  and 
"  the  Commonwealth  "  established  in  its  place,  with  Oliver 
Cromwell  at  its  head.  The  New  England  colonists,  who  had 
sympathized  with  Parliament  during  the  struggle,  enjoyed 
the  favor  of  the  new  government  and  rapidly  increased  in 
strength. 

When  in  1660  monarchy  was  restored  and  Charles  II. 
was  seated  on  the  throne  of  his  ancestors,  New  England  had 
to  make  her  peace  with  him  as  best  she  could.  Agents  were 
sent  over  to  London.  Liberal  charters  were  obtained  for 
Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island  ;  but  Massachusetts,  in  re 
turn  for  a  recognition  of  her  charter,  was  required  to  toler 
ate  the  Church  of  England  and  make  other  unpalatable 
concessions.  By  evasion  and  delay,  the  colony  for  a  time 
managed  to  avoid  compliance.  Meanwhile  it  kept  growing. 
Boston,  though  its  streets  were  narrow  and  its  houses  mostly 
of  wood,  was  much  the  largest  town  in  the  colonies.  In 


76  THE   NEW   WORLD   FROM    1640   TO    1675. 

1675  it  contained  more  than  8,000  souls,  and  carried  on  a 
flourishing  trade  with  Virginia  and  the  West  Indies. 

NEGRO  SLAVERY  was  allowed  in  New  England  as  well 
as  Virginia.  It  found  its  way  into  all  the  colonies,  and  con 
tinued  to  exist  throughout  the  colonial  period. 

JOHN  ELIOT  was  prominent  among  the  good  men  who 
flourished  in  New  England  at  this  time.  He  devoted  his 
life  to  labors  among  the  natives,  journeying  from  village  to 
village,  preaching  to  them  in  their  own  language,  establish 
ing  schools,  relieving  their  wants,  and  teaching  them  the 
arts  of  civilized  life.  He  acquired  unbounded  influence 
over  them,  and  succeeded  in  forming  several  communities  of 
"praying  Indians."  In  1663,  he  completed  at  Cambridge 
his  translation  of  the  Scriptures  into  the  language  of  the 
Massachusetts  Indians — the  first  Bible  published  in  Amer 
ica.  So  well  known  was  Eliot's  kindness  of  heart  that  once 
the  treasurer,  on  paying  him  his  salary,  tied  it  up  in  a  hand 
kerchief  with  as  many  knots  as  possible,  lest  the  charitable 
"  apostle  of  the  Indians  "  should  give  it  all  to  the  needy  on 
his  way  home. 

QUAKERS  were  objects  of  special  abhorrence  to  the  Mas 
sachusetts  Puritans.  Relying  on  "  the  inner  light,"  opposed 
to  all  forms  and  ceremonies,  denouncing  a  hireling  ministry, 
and  refusing  to  bear  arms  or  to  take  oaths,  the  Quakers,  or 
"  Friends  "  as  they  called  themselves,  were  regarded  as  dan 
gerous  to  both  church  and  state.  Nor  can  we  wonder  that 
the  staid  people  of  Boston  were  provoked,  when  they  saw 
some  of  these  enthusiasts  disturbing  public  worship,  hooting 
from  windows  at  magistrates  and  ministers  as  they  passed, 
and  even  parading  the  streets  half-naked  to  show  their  dis 
approval  of  worldly  fashions.  Milder  penalties  failing  to 
keep  "  the  accursed  sect "  away,  Quakers  entering  the  colony 
were  at  length  condemned  to  lose  their  ears,  to  be  branded 
on  the  shoulder,  to  have  their  tongues  bored  with  red-hot 
irons,  and,  if  the  offence  was  repeated,  to  be  hanged.  After 


NEW   NETHERLAND.  77 

four  had  suffered  death  (1659-1661),  a  milder  punishment 
was  substituted — to  be  stripped,  tied  to  a  cart's  tail,  and 
whipped  from  one  town  to  another  over  the  border — and 
the  Quakers  at  last  stopped  coming. 

New  Netherland.  —  Kieft,  who  was  governor  of  New 
Netherland  from  1638  to  1647,  by  his  folly,  cruelty,  and 
treachery,  brought  on  a  terrible  war  with  the  Indians,  which 
at  one  time  threatened  every  Dutch  settlement  in  the  coun 
try  with  destruction.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  old  soldier 
Peter  Stuyvesant  (sti've-s&nt\  who  had  lost  a  leg  in  the 
service  of  his  country — a  stubborn  and  choleric  man,  dis 
posed  to  override  the  people,  but  brave  and  honest.  Stuy 
vesant  maintained  the  honor  of  the  Dutch  arms  by  capturing 
Fort  Christiana  and  annexing  New  Sweden,  "  the  jewel  of 
the  Swedish  crown  "  (1655).  He  made  an  efficient  governor, 
adopting  various  measures  for  the  public  good,  and  winning 
the  confidence  of  the  Indians  by  his  fair  dealing. 

Stuyvesant,  however,  was  unwilling  to  give  way  to  the 
spirit  of  liberty  which  began  to  prevail  among  his  people, 
threatening  that  if  any  one  appealed  from  his  decisions  he 
would  make  him  "a  foot  shorter."  So,  when  in  1664  an 
English  fleet  appeared  in  the  harbor  of  New  Amsterdam  and 
demanded  the  surrender  of  the  fort,  the  gallant  veteran  could 
not  induce  the  burghers  to  support  him  in  its  defence.  To 
his  bitter  mortification,  he  was  obliged  to  haul  down  his 
colors.  The  whole  colony  submitted  without  bloodshed  to 
the  English.  Its  name,  as  well  as  that  of  the  town  on  Man 
hattan  Island,  was  changed  to  NEW  YORK,  in  honor  of  the 
Duke  of  York,  afterward  James  II.  ;  to  whom  the  king  his 
brother,  disregarding  the  counter-claim  of  Holland,  had 
granted  the  region  from  the  Connecticut  to  the  Delaware. 
The  Duke  of  York  being  also  Duke  of  Albany,  the  latter 
name  was  given  to  Fort  Orange. 

The  country  between  the  Hudson  and  the  Delaware  was 
granted  by  the  duke  to  Lord  Berkeley  and  Sir  George  Car- 


78 


THE   NEW   WORLD   FROM    1640   TO    1675. 


teret,  who  called  it  NEW  JERSEY  from  the  Isle  of  Jersey,  of 
which  Carteret  had  been  governor.  Neither  here  nor  in 
New  York  were  the  Dutch  settlers  disturbed  ;  and,  though 
the  English  element  increased,  Dutch  continued  for  some 
time  to  be  the  tongue  commonly  spoken. 

THE  ENGLISH  GOVERNORS  of  New  York  proved  arbitrary 
and  inefficient,  and  in  1673  the  colony  was  allowed  again  to 
fall  into  the  hands  of  its  former  masters.  It  was  restored 


STATE-HOUSE  AT  NEW  AMSTERDAM,  UNDER  GOVERNOR  STUYVESANT. 

to  the  English,  however,  the  following  year,  and  Major  Ed 
mund  Andros  became  governor.  His  administration  was  no 
improvement  on  his  predecessors'. 

The  Dutch  of  the  New  "World  were  a  thrifty,  honest,  hos 
pitable  people,  never  in  a  hurry,  not  given  to  many  words, 
fond  of  good  cheer,  and  of  smoking  their  pipes  on  the  stoops 
of  their  neat  and  comfortable  houses.  Manhattan  Island,  in 
the  olden  time,  was  dotted  with  "  boweries,"  or  country-seats. 


NEW   NETHERLAND. VIRGINIA..  79 

The  town  was  at  the  lower  extremity,  a  palisade  having  been 
run  across  the  island  at  what  is  now  Wall  Street,  to  keep  off 
the  Indians.  The  better  class  of  buildings  rejoiced  in  roofs 
of  red  and  black  tiles,  and  gables  of  bricks  that  had  crossed 
the  ocean.  A  good  house  rented  for  $14  a  year.  At  first 
the  mode  of  living  was  plain.  After  a  time,  house-servants 
— in  some  cases,  negro  slaves — became  common.  At  a  still 
later  period,  a  fondness  for  finery  was  exhibited.  The  ladies 
were  gay  with  jaunty  jackets  of  cloth  or  silk,  elaborate  col 
ored  skirts,  and  girdle-chains,  to  which  on  Sunday  handsome 
Bibles  or  hymn-books  were  attached.  The  fine  gentlemen 
wore  knee-breeches,  silver  shoe-buckles,  long  velvet  waist 
coats,  and  coats  set  off  with  bright  silver  buttons. — Under 
the  second  English  governor  the  first  mail  was  dispatched 
from  New  York  to  Boston,  the  round  trip  taking  a  month. 

Virginia.  —  Sir  William  Berkeley  was  commissioned  as 
governor  of  Virginia  in  1641.  Though  he  was  no  friend  of 
popular  rights,  and  once  thanked  Heaven  that  there  were 
neither  free  schools  nor  printing  within  his  jurisdiction,  yet 
for  a  time  the  colony  throve  grandly.  The  Assembly,  or 
House  of  Burgesses,  revised  the  laws ;  land-titles  were  ad 
justed,  taxes  more  equitably  laid,  and  punishments  of  undue 
severity  abolished.  But  in  religious  matters  great  intoler 
ance  was  manifested.  Conformity  to  the  Church  of  England 
was  required  in  all  teachers  and  preachers.  Puritans  were 
not  allowed  to  hold  office,  while  Quakers  and  Catholics  were 
forbidden  to  enter  the  colony  under  heavy  penalties. 

In  1644  Virginia  suffered  from  an  Indian  war,  which  cost 
the  lives  of  several  hundred  colonists.  The  Red  Men,  how 
ever,  were  soon  subdued  and  driven  from  their  lands.  So 
ciety  after  a  time  assumed  an  aristocratic  air,  and  distinct 
lines  were  drawn  between  the  upper  and  lower  classes. 
Landed  estates  descended  to  the  eldest  son.  The  large 
planters  indulged  in  display,  surrounding  themselves  with 
servants,  and  exercising  a  generous  hospitality. 


80  THE  NEW   WORLD   FROM    1640   TO    1675. 

The  Virginians  were  loyal  to  Charles  I.  during  his  war 
with  Parliament.  They  were  obliged  to  recognize  the  Com 
monwealth,  but  rejoiced  at  the  restoration  of  Charles  II. 
Their  fidelity,  however,  was  ill  rewarded.  The  restored 
king  laid  restrictions  on  their  commerce,  cut  them  off  from 
all  markets  for  their  tobacco  except  England,  and  gave 
away  their  best  lands  to  his  dissolute  courtiers.  More  than 
this,  an  aristocratic  faction,  favored  by  Governor  Berkeley, 
controlled  the  House  of  Burgesses,  and  ground  the  faces 
of  the  poor  with  iniquitous  taxes,  while  they  exempted  the 
large  landholders  and  provided  liberally  for  their  own  sala 
ries.  Things  were  ripe  for  trouble. 

Settlement  of  Carolina. — As  far  back  as  1562,  the  French 
had  given  the  name  of  CAROLINA  to  the  region  south  of  Vir 
ginia  (p.  37),  though  they  had  failed  to  colonize  it  perma 
nently.  Meanwhile,  disregarding  the  claims  of  both  France 
and  Spain,  English  emigrants  from  Virginia  and  Plymouth 
had  settled  near  Albemarle  Sound  and  on  the  Cape  Fear 
River  (see  Map,  p.  42).  But  Carolina  was  to  have  other 
owners.  In  1663,  Charles  II.  granted  this  whole  territory, 
as  far  south  as  the  St.  John's  River  in  Florida,  to  several 
noblemen;  and  the  philosopher  Locke  was  employed  to 
draw  up  a  constitution  for  their  magnificent  domain.  Great 
philosophers  are  not  always  practical  men  ;  and  so  it  turned 
out  that  Locke's  "  Grand  Model,"  with  its  array  of  feudal 
lords,  was  wholly  unfit  for  the  free  deer-hunters  of  Albe 
marle,  who  would  call  no  man  master. 

Nor  was  it  more  successful  in  the  south,  where  a  party 
sent  out  by  the  proprietors  established  themselves  on  the 
Ashley  River  (1670).  A  republican  government  was  adopted 
instead ;  and  in  1680,  Charleston,  so  called  after  the  king, 
was  founded. 

The  genial  climate  and  rich  soil  of  Carolina  attracted 
settlers,  not  only  from  the  northern  colonies,  but  from  the 
mother-country,  the  United  Provinces,  and  even  France, 


CAROLINA. — NEW   FRANCE. 


81 


whence  the  persecuted 
Hu'guenots  (Protes 
tants)  were  but  too  glad 
to  escape  to  a  land  of 
liberty.  Little  or  no 
trouble  was  experienced 
with  the  Indians ;  but 
the  misrule  of  bad  gov 
ernors  tried  the  people 
for  a  time,  till  they  took 
matters  into  their  own 
hands  and  drove  out  the 
tyrants. 

About  the    close   of 
the  century,  rice  began 

to  be  Cultivated  in  SOUth-  CHABLESTON  AND  VICINITY. 

ern  Carolina,  from  seed  brought  from  Madagascar  ;  and  soon 
after  1700,  cotton  and  silk  were  produced  in  small  quantities. 

New  France, — While  these  things  were  going  on  in  the 
English  colonies,  the  settlement  of  New  France  was  slowly 
progressing.  In  1642,  Montreal  was  founded  with  solemn 
ceremonies  as  a  mission-station.  This  place  and  Quebec  soon 
became  the  head-quarters  of  devoted  priests  and  Jesuits, 
whose  one  great  aim  was  the  conversion  of  the  Indians.  De 
terred  by  no  dangers,  they  pushed  out  into '  the  wilderness, 
some  making  their  way  eastward  as  far  as  the  Kennebec  and 
Penobscot,  and  others  penetrating  the  region  of  the  Great 
Lakes.  Not  a  few  proved  their  sincerity  by  laying  down 
their  lives  in  this  perilous  service. 

FRENCH  EXPLORATIONS. — The  Iroquois  (see  Map,  p.  38), 
filled  with  jealousy  and  hatred  of  the  French,  resisted  these 
missionary  efforts,  harassed  the  settlers  on  the  St.  Lawrence, 
and  at  one  time  even  threatened  Quebec  with  destruction. 
But  other  tribes  were  impressed  by  the  earnest  preachers. 
Allouez  (al-loo-a')  raised  the  cross  among  the  Sioux  (soo), 


82  FKENCH    EXPLOKATIONS    IN   THE   WEST. 

.the  Chip'pewas,  and  curious  throngs  from  distant  nations 
that  visited  his  little  chapel  on  Lake  Superior.  He  first 
brought  back  an  account  of  the  wonderful  Pictured  Rocks, 
where  for  miles  the  sandstone,  from  one  to  three  hundred 
feet  in  height,  has  been  worn  into  arches  and  columns  like 
those  of  some  ancient  ruin. 

Following  the  example  of  this  devoted  missionary,  Mar- 
quette  (mar-feet')  and  Joliet  (zhole-ya1)  next  explored  north 
ern  Michigan,  and  discovered  the  Mississippi  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Wisconsin  (1673).  For  hundreds  of  miles  they  de 
scended  the  great  river  in  canoes,  to  the  point  where  it  is 
joined  by  the  Arkansas. 

Marquette  afterward  preached  to  the  natives  in  what  is 
now  northern  Illinois,  and  touched  their  hearts  with  his 
words  of  love.  Coasting  Lake  Michigan  on  his  return,  he 
went  ashore  to  perform  his  devotions,  and  while  so  engaged 
breathed  his  last.  Flourishing  cities  in  the  regions  they 
visited,  preserve  the  names  of  Marquette  and  Joliet. 

The  next  explorers  were  Hen'nepin  and  La  Salle  (lah 
sahl),  commander  of  Fort  Frontenac,  which  stood  at  the  foot 
of  Lake  Ontario,  on  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Kingston 
(see  Map,  p.  112).  When  they  had  reached  the  Illinois 
River,  La  Salle  turned  back,  while  Hennepin  directed  his 
course  to  the  upper  Mississippi,  and  was  the  first  white  man 
to  behold  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony.  In  1682,  La  Salle,  with 
a  well-equipped  party,  started  on  a  second  expedition,  and 
this  time  descended  the  Mississippi  to  its  mouth.  The  coun 
try  on  its  banks  he  took  possession  of,  in  the  name  of  King 
Louis  XIV.  of  France,  and  called  LOUISIANA  after  this 
"  Grand  Monarch,"  then  at  the  height  of  his  glory.  Thus, 
while  England  held  the  entire  Atlantic  coast  from  the  Pe- 
nobscot  to  Florida,  and  claimed  the  whole  country  west  to  the 
Pacific,  France,  by  actual  explorations  and  the  establishment 
of  occasional  posts,  acquired  a  conflicting  title  to  the  basin 
of  the  Great  Lakes  and  the  vast  valley  of  the  Mississippi. 


1675 


KING   PHILIP  S   WAK. 


83 


ANALYTICAL     REVIEW. 


Treat  the  following  Abstracts  as  heretofore  directed  (p.  66).     Such  sub 
jects  as  the  teacher  sees  fit,  may  from  time  to  time  hereafter  be  made  the 


bases  of  similar  exercises. 

French  Explorations. 

(Pages  36,  37,  55,  66.) 
I.  FISHING  VOYAGES. 
II.  VERRAZZANI'S  VOYAGES. 

1.  Patronized  by  whom  ? 

2.  Results. 

III.  CARTIER'S  VOYAGES. 

IV.  ATTEMPTS  AT  COLONIZATION. 

1.  On  the  St.  Lawrence. 

2.  In  Carolina. 

3.  In  Florida :  Ribault. 

a.  Spanish  massacre. 

b.  French  reprisals. 
De  Gourgues. 

4.  In  Acadia. 

V.  CHAMPLAIN'S  EXPLORATIONS. 

1.  Founding  of  Quebec. 

2.  Lake  Champlain. 

VI.  COLLISIONS  WITH  THE  ENGLISH 
ON  THE  COAST  OF  MAINE. 


New  Netherland. 

(Pages  51-55,  77.) 

I.  DUTCH  MARITIME  ENTERPRISE. 
II.  HUDSON'S  VOYAGES. 

1.  Hudson  River  discovered. 

2.  Hudson  Bay  discovered. 

III.  EARLY  SETTLEMENTS. 

1.  On  Manhattan  Island. 

2.  Up  the  Hudson. 

3.  Of  Walloons. 

IV.  MINUIT'S  ADMINISTRATION. 
V.  "  PATROON  "  SYSTEM. 

VI.  KIEFT'S  ADMINISTRATION. 
VII.  STUYVESANT'S  ADMINISTRAT'N. 

1.  Conquest  of  New  Sweden : 

its  early  history. 

2.  Character  and  course. 
VIII.  CONQUEST  BY  THE  ENGLISH. 

Change  of  names. 
IX.  SOCIAL  LIFE  AND  MANNERS. 


CHAPTER    X. 

KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.— BACON'S  REBELLION, 

King  Philip's  War.— After  the  Pequod  War,  New  Eng 
land  experienced  little  trouble  from  the  Indians  till  1675. 
Then  broke  out  King  Philip's  War.  Philip,  whose  chief 
seat  was  Mount  Hope  (see  Map,  p.  64),  was  chief  of  the 
Wampanoags  and  son  of  the  old  Massasoit,  who  for  more 
than  forty  years  had  remained  the  unwavering  friend  of  the 
Plymouth  colonists. 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR. 


[1675 


Philip  knew  the  power  of  the  pale-faces,  and  had  not 
desired  war.  But  he  was  powerless  to  keep  down  the  fires 
kindled  in  the  breasts  of  his  people  when  they  saw  them 
selves  gradually  crowded  out  from  the  hunting-grounds  of 
their  fathers,  and  at  last  shut  up  in  two  small  peninsulas  on 
the  northern  shore  of  Narragansett  Bay.  Slight  causes  suf 
ficed  to  fan  the  smouldering  fire  into  a  blaze.  When  three 
Red  Men  were  executed  for  murdering  a  Christian  Indian 
who  had  given  information  of  their  hostile  designs,  war 
could  no  longer  be  deferred.  Philip  accepted  his  fate, 
though  he  wept  when  he  heard  of  the  first  shedding  of  Eng 
lish  blood.  He  soon  had  all  the  tribes,  as  far  as  the  distant 
forests  of  Maine,  united  in  one  common  cause  against  the 
whites. 

Then  were  experienced  all  the  horrors  of  Indian  warfare 

— the  deadly  ambus 
cade  —  the  fearful 
war-whoop,  curdling 
the  blood  at  mid 
night — the  shooting 
down  by  invisible 
foes  of  all  who 
ventured  outside  of 
palisades  or  block 
house — the  burning 
of  villages,  and 
scalping  of  women 
and  children. 

The  Massachu 
setts  settlements  in  the  Connecticut  Valley  suffered  espe 
cially,  in  the  fall  of  1675.  Several  were  reduced  to  ashes. 
Hadley,  surprised  while  its  inhabitants  were  at  meeting,  was 
saved  by  a  strange-looking  old  man  who  suddenly  appeared 
among  the  people  to  rally  them  from  their  fright  and  repel 
the  savages,  and  then  as  mysteriously  vanished.  The  sav- 


BLOCK-HOUSE  AND  PALISADES. 


1675] 

iour  of  Hadley  was  at  first  thought  to  be  an  angel,  but  was 
afterward  ascertained  to  be  one  of  the  fugitive  judges  that 
had  condemned  Charles  I.,  General  Goffe,  who  had  been 
living  in  concealment  in  the  neighborhood. 

For  a  time,  Philip  seemed  to  be  everywhere.  His  venge 
ful  arm  was  felt  even  within  eighteen  miles  of  Boston,  a 
sudden  attack  having  been  made  on  Weymouth.  The 
Rhode  Island  towns  suffered  with  the  rest,  and  even  the 
remote  settlements  of  Maine  and  New  Hampshire  were  rav 
aged.  Panic  seized  the  colonists,  who  beheld  in  this  ter 
rible  war  a  judgment  for  their  sins — for  their  pride,  in 
wearing  long  curled  hair  and  gay  apparel — for  their  hurry 
to  leave  meeting  before  the  blessing  was  pronounced.  Their 
imaginations  painted  phantom  horsemen  on  the  clouds,  and 
turned  the  howling  of  wolves  into  an  omen  of  ill. 

Yet  the  yeomen  of  Massachusetts  and  Plymouth  were 
not  idle.  They  had  laid  waste  the  Wampanoag  country, 
had  sought  Philip  in  the  field;  and  in  December,  1675,  a 
thousand  men  invaded  the  territory  of  the  Narragansetts, 
and  completely  broke  the  power  of  that  once  formidable 
tribe.  The  following  spring,  the  Indians  began  to  be  hard 
pressed  for  food  and  ammunition.  While  attempting  to  fish 
at  the  Falls  of  the  Connecticut,  a  considerable  party  of  them 
was  attacked  and  sustained  a  heavy  reverse. 

At  length  without  followers  or  resources,  hunted  from 
spot  to  spot,  Philip  returned  to  his  old  haunts  near  Mount 
Hope.  The  last  bitter  blow  was  the  capture  of  his  wife  and 
boy.  A  few  days  after,  surprised  by  his  enemies  in  the  re 
cesses  of  a  swamp,  the  heart-broken  chief  was  shot  by  one 
of  his  own  people  who  had  deserted  to  the  whites  (August, 
1676).  His  head  was  sent  to  Plymouth,  where  it  was  ex 
posed  on  a  gibbet,  and  the  little  grandson  of  the  faithful 
Massasoit  was  sold  as  a  slave  in  Bermuda.  During  this  brief 
but  destructive  war,  six  hundred  buildings  were  burned,  and 
as  many  of  the  settlers  slain. 


86  TROUBLES   IN    VIRGINIA.  [l675 

Virginia  in  1675. — We  left  Virginia  (p.  80)  a  royal  prov 
ince  under  Sir  William  Berkeley,  and  its  people  oppressed  and 
discontented.  In  1675,  Indian  depredations  added  to  their 
troubles.  Maryland  had  been  the  first  thus  to  suffer,  from 
the  incursions  of  certain  tribes,  driven  from  their  homes  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Susquehanna  by  the  victorious  Senecas. 
Virginia  had  succored  the  sister  colony.  The  Indians  had 
sent  embassadors  to  sue  for  peace,  and  these  had  been  treach 
erously  slain  by  the  whites.  Thus  provoked,  the  Indians  re 
taliated  wherever  a  defenceless  plantation  invited  their 
attack  ;  and  these  barbarities,  occurring  at  the  same  time 
with  King  Philip's  War  in  New  England,  led  the  Virginians 
to  suspect  a  general  Indian  plot  for  their  destruction. 

Bacon's  Rebellion. — Governor  Berkeley,  who  derived 
profit  from  the  Indian  trade,  and  who  at  the  same  time  no 
doubt  honestly  disapproved  of  the  treachery  that  was  the 
immediate  cause  of  the  war,  would  take  no  efficient  meas 
ures  to  protect  the  people.  Nor,  when  a  commission  to  lead 
a  force  against  the  savages  was  asked  for  by  NATHANIEL 
BACON,  a  young  and  popular  lawyer  from  England  who  had 
a  seat  in  the  governor's  council,  would  he  grant  it.  So  Ba 
con,  hearing  soon  after  of  an  attack  on  his  own  plantation, 
took  the  liberty  of  proceeding  against  the  Indians  without  a 
commission  (April,  1676).  For  this,  though  successful,  he 
was  denounced  by  Berkeley  as  a  traitor. 

Peace  was  for  a  time  preserved  by  Bacon's  making  con 
cessions  ;  but  the  commission  was  still  withheld,  and  soon 
the  popular  leader  appeared  before  Jamestown  with  several 
hundred  men,  and  extorted  it  from  the  unwilling  governor. 
The  Indians  were  defeated ;  but,  during  Bacon's  absence  on 
the  expedition,  Berkeley  declared  him  and  his  men  rebels, 
and  there  was  no  alternative  but  civil  war.  The  people  gen 
erally  sided  with  Bacon,  as  the  champion  of  their  rights. 
Jamestown  fell  successively  into  the  hands  of  either  party, 
and  in  September,  1676,  was  burned  by  the  patriots,  several 


1676] 


BACON'S    REBELLION. 


87 


of  them  firing  their  own  dwellings,  to  prevent  it  from  becom 
ing  a  stronghold  of  the  enemy. 

Success  crowned  the  efforts  of  the  popular  party,  and 
they  were  on  the  point  of  witnessing  the  triumph  of  liberal 
principles  when  their  able  young  leader  sickened  and  died 
(Oct.  1, 1676).  The  "  rebellion  "  soon  died  out,  and  the  malig 
nant  Berkeley  wreaked  a  terrible  vengeance  on  the  patriot 
leaders  that  survived.  Nothing  short  of  their  life-blood 
would  satisfy  him.  "  God  hath  been  inexpressibly  merciful 
to  this  poor  province,"  he  wrote,  after  giving  an  account 
of  one  of  his  hangings  ;  but  he  himself  showed  no  mercy. 

Culpepper,  to  whom,  with  Lord  Arlington,  King  Charles 
II.  had  granted  Virginia,  came  over  in  1680  as  its  governor 
for  life.  His  sole  aim  seems  to  have  been  to  get  as  much 
money  as  possible  out  of  his  province.  There  would  prob 
ably  have  been  another  <c  rebellion,"  had  not  the  king  re 
voked  the  grant  and  recalled  Culpepper.  But  the  new  gov 
ernor  was  of  the  same  stamp,  and  Virginia  as  a  royal  prov 
ince  was  for  a  while  little  better  off  than  before. 


REVIEW    BY    DATES. 


Continue  the  CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD  for  the  following  years,  accord 
ing  to  the  model  on  page  55.  The  words  in  parentheses  will  suggest  the 
events.  As  a  review,  let  the  events  be  assigned  in  turn  to  different  pupils, 
and  each  tell  what  he  knows  about  his  topic  without  being  questioned. 


1606  (Grant). 

1607  (Jamestown). 

1608  (Champlain). 

1609  (Hudson). 
1614  (Manhattan). 

1619  (Assembly). 

1620  (Pilgrims). 
1622  (Massacre). 
1628  (Mass.  Bay). 
1630  (Boston). 
1633  (Connecticut). 


1634  (Maryland). 

1635  (Connecticut). 

1636  (Providence). 

1637  (Pequods). 

1638  (New  Haven). 
"  (Swedes). 

1639  (Newport). 
"  (Gorges). 

1641  (New  Hampshire). 

1643  (Union). 

1644  (Indian  War). 


1652  (Maine). 

1653  (North  Carolina). 
1655  (New  Sweden). 

1663  (Carolina). 

1664  (N.  Amsterdam). 

1665  (Union). 

1670  (South  Carolina). 

1673  (New  York). 

1674  (Andros). 

1675  (War). 

1676  (Rebellion). 


88' 


QUAKERS   IN   NEW   JEESEY. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

FOUNDING  OF  PENNSYLVANIA. 

Quaker  Settlements  in  New  Jersey. — Berkeley,  one  of 
the  proprietors  of  New  Jersey  (p.  77),  sold  out  his  share  to 

two  Quakers,  and  in 
1676  the  province  was 
divided  into  East  Jer 
sey  and  West  Jersey, 
Carteret  retaining  the 
former. 

The  Quakers,  or 
Friends,  originated  in 
England  about  1650, 
through  the  teachings 
of  George  Fox,  who 
from  a  shoemaker's  ap 
prentice  became  an 
earnest  itinerant 
preacher.  One  of 
their  leading  doctrines 
was  the  equality  of 
all  men ;  they  kept 
their  hats  on  even  be- 

EARLY  SETTLEMENTS  IN  NEW  JERSEY.  f ore  the  king  himself, 

and  used  thou  and  thee  no  matter  whom  they  addressed. 
They  thought  war  wrong,  even  when  waged  in  self-defence, 
and  never  returned  evil  for  evil. 

We  have  seen  how  these  generally  inoffensive  Friends 
were  treated  in  New  England  and  Virginia.  In  the  old 
country,  also,  persecution  was  for  years  their  lot.  They 
were  reviled  by  the  lowest  of  the  low  ;  their  women  and 
children  were  dragged  by  the  hair  through  the  streets ;  their 
meeting-houses  were  pulled  down ;  their  preachers  were  fined 


1681]  WILLIAM  PENN'S  GRANT.  89 

and  imprisoned  in  filthy  dungeons.  It  is  not  surprising, 
therefore,  that  they  flocked  to  the  asylum  provided  for  them 
on  the  genial  banks  of  the  Delaware,  and  reared  the  flourish 
ing  villages  of  Salem  and  Burlington.  After  the  death  of 
Carteret,  East  Jersey  also  was  purchased  by  an  association 
of  Quakers,  at  whose  head  stood  William  Penn. 

William  Penn  was  a  son  of  Admiral  Penn,  a  favorite 
officer  of  the  Duke  of  York.  "While  at  Oxford  University, 
the  young  William  had  embraced  the  doctrines  of  the 
Friends  ;  and  having  with  some  others  gone  so  far  as  to 
tear  the  college  gown  from  the  backs  of  his  fellow-students, 
he  was  expelled  from  the  university.  For  this  and  for  stand 
ing  firm  in  his  new  faith,  on  his  return  home,  he  was  beaten 
by  his  father  and  turned  out  of  the  house.  But  neither  the 
admiral's  anger  nor  the  brilliant  prospects  that  awaited  him 
if  he  would  yield  his  religious  convictions,  could  shake  his 
belief.  He  became  a  great  preacher,  the  defender  of  his 
sect,  and  earnestly  embarked  in  the  work  of  colonizing  his 
people  where  they  could  enjoy  their  principles  unmolested. 

Founding  of  Pennsylvania. — Colonization  in  the  New 
World  had  engaged  the  attention  of  William  Penn,  even 
before  he  became  interested  in  New  Jersey.  As  early  as 
1681  he  had  obtained  from  Charles  II.  a  large  grant  west 
of  the  Delaware,  in  payment  of  £16,000  which  had  been 
owed  his  father  by  the  government.  To  this  territory  the 
king  gave  the  name  of  PENNSYLVANIA,  though  the  modest 
Penn  wanted  it  called  simply  Sylvania  (forest-land),  and 
actually  offered  one  of  the  secretaries  twenty  guineas  to 
have  the  name  so  changed.  A  liberal  "  frame  of  govern 
ment  "  was  drawn  up  for  the  new  colony  ;  the  three  south 
ern  counties  (constituting  the  present  state  of  Delaware) 
were  added  to  Penn's  domain  ;  and  in  1682  the  proprietor 
himself  set  sail  with  a  considerable  company.  "I  will 
found,"  said  he,  "  a  free  colony  for  all  mankind." 

Penn's  grant  embraced  the   territory  once  called  New 


90  PHILADELPHIA   FOUNDED.  fl683 

Sweden.  The  Swedes  had  shown  themselves  an  intelligent, 
moral,  and  religious  people.  Sending  back  messages  by 
every  traveller,  they  had  begged  that  godly  men  would 
come  from  old  Sweden  to  this  strange  land  to  keep  them 
in  the  faith  of  their  fathers.  And  godly  men  had  come,  and 
had  taught  their  catechism  not  only  to  their  own  people  but 
to  the  neighboring  Delawares,  freely  rendering  the  petition 
of  the  Lord's  Prayer,  Give  us  this  day  our  daily  bread,  in 
the  Indian  tongue,  "  Give  us  always  plenty  of  venison  and 
corn."  There  were  but  three  books  in  the  whole  colony, 
yet  they  were  used  so  faithfully  that  every  child  could  read. 

Though,  on  the  conquest  of  New  Sweden  by  the  Dutch, 
such  of  the  inhabitants  as  refused  allegiance  to  Holland 
were  sent  back  to  Europe,  many  thrifty  Swedes  remained  ; 
and  from  some  of  these,  who  were  settled  there,  Penn  bought 
a  tract  at  the  confluence  of  the  Schuylkill  and  the  Delaware. 
Here,  in  1683,  he  laid  out  in  regular  squares  the  city  of 
Philadelphia,  its  name  (meaning  brotherly  love)  being  an 
earnest  of  the  principles  that  were  to  govern  the  Quaker 
colony.  Governor  Penn  shortly  afterward  made  his  famous 
treaty  with  the  neighboring  Indians,  who  were  won  by  his 
loving  words,  and  promised  to  live  in  peace  with  William 
Penn  and  his  children  as  long  as  the  moon  and  the  sun 
should  endure.  This  treaty  was  never  broken. 

Philadelphia  grew  apace  ;  within  three  years  it  could 
boast  of  six  hundred  houses.  Solid  comfort  was  character 
istic  of  the  city,  rather  than  show.  One  of  the  residents  at 
this  early  period  wrote  of  the  town :  "  There  are  no  begars 
nor  olde  maydes,  neither  Lawyers  nor  Doctors,  with  lycense 
to  kill  and  make  mischeef." 

An  Assembly  of  delegates  from  the  different  counties 
was  convoked,  which  passed  on  laws  proposed  by  the  gov 
ernor  and  council.  Swedes  and  Dutch  were  allowed  equal 
rights  with  English  settlers.  Ship-loads  of  emigrants  came 
over.  The  name  of  Germantown,  founded  in  1684,  shows 


1683] 


THE   THREE   LOWER   COUNTIES. 


91 


that  some  of  these  were  from  Germany, — pioneers  in  a  great 
movement  from  that  country,  which  afterward  rapidly  in 
creased  the  population  of  Pennsylvania. 

The  Three  Lower  Counties.— Lord  Baltimore's  grant  and 
Penn's  covering  in  part  the  same  ground,  there  was  long  a 
dispute  as  to  the  line  between  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania. 
The  present  east-and-west  boundary  was  fixed  in  1761  by 
two  surveyors,  Mason  and  Dixon,  and  in  the  days  of  slavery 
was  often  referred  to  as  "Mason  and  Dixon's  line."  Penn's 
title  to  the  "  three  Lower  Counties  "  was  confirmed.  But 
their  inhabitants,  growing  dissatisfied,  were  in  1701  allowed 
a  distinct  Assembly  of  their  own,  and  thus  became  virtually 
independent  under  the  name  of  DELAWARE.  They  remained, 
however,  under  the  same  governor  as  Pennsylvania  till  1776. 

Penn's  Latter  Days  were  clouded.  The  Assembly  took 
advantage  of  his  absence  in 
England  to  infringe  on  his 
rights  and  divert  his  reve 
nues.  After  the  fall  of  the 
Stuarts  and  the  accession  of 
William  and  Mary  in  1689, 
he  was  thrice  arrested  on 
false  charges  of  treason  and 
conspiracy,  growing  out  of 
his  friendship  for  the  deposed 
king,  James  II.  Dishonest 
agents  involved  him  in  debt; 
and,  when  he  asked  the  As 
sembly  of  his  colony  for  a 
moderate  loan,  he  was  re 
fused.  After  a  life  devoted 
to  the  service  of  others,  the 
pure  and  gentle  Friend  died  in  1718,  having  received  little 
reward  in  this  world  except  the  approval  of  his  own  con 
science. 


92  THE   NEW   WORLD   AT   THE   CLOSE 

QENERAL    REVIEW    AND    MAP    QUESTIONS. 

(Refer  to  the  Maps  on  pages  73,  88.) 

How  was  New  Sweden  situated  ?  When  and  where  was  it  first  settled  ? 
Who  led  the  Swedes  ?  What  have  we  heard  about  Minuit  before  ?  Who 
claimed  the  territory  of  New  Sweden  ?  On  what  ground  ?  Describe  the 
people  of  New  Sweden.  What  city  afterward  covered  the  site  of  their 
northernmost  settlement  ?  What  became  of  New  Sweden  ?  In  what  four 
colonies  was  it  successively  incorporated  ? 

What  name  did  the  greater  part  of  New  Sweden  bear,  when  included  in 
Pennsylvania  ?  When,  and  under  what  name,  did  "  the  three  Lower  Coun 
ties  "  become  an  independent  colony  ?  Whence  was  the  name  of  the  colo 
ny,  river,  and  bay,  derived  ?  Tell  all  you  know  about  Lord  Delaware.  By 
what  other  name  was  the  Delaware  River  known  among  the  Dutch  ? 

How  was  Fort  Nassau  situated  ?  What  Indians  lived  on  the  eastern 
shore  of  Maryland  ?  Why  was  New  Jersey  so  called  ?  By  whom,  and  in 
what  part,  was  it  first  settled  ?  How  was  it  divided  ?  Which  was  the 
larger  division  ?  Name  some  of  the  early  settlements  in  East  Jersey.  Men 
tion  some  in  West  Jersey. 

Where  do  we  first  hear  of  Quakers  in  the  New  World  ?  Where  next  ? 
How  did  New  Jersey  fall  into  their  possession  ?  Tell  all  you  know  about 
the  origin  and  peculiarities  of  the  Quakers.  How  was  William  Penn  con 
nected  with  New  Jersey  ?  How  with  Pennsylvania  ?  With  what  sovereigns 
of  England  had  Penn  to  do  ?  Mention  three  early  settlements  in  Pennsyl 
vania. 

Draw  a  map  of  New  Jersey  and  the  adjacent  part  of  Pennsylvania, 
showing  the  division  into  East  and  West  Jersey,  the  early  settlements,  and 
the  city  of  Philadelphia. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

THE  NEW  WORLD  AT  THE  CLOSE  OF  THE  SEVEN 
TEENTH  CENTURY. 

New  York. — Major  Edmund  Andros,  who  became  gov 
ernor  of  New  York  after  its  reconquest  from  the  Dutch  in 
1674,  was  the  fit  tool  of  his  tyrannical  master,  the  Duke  of 
York.  Under  his  rule,  the  people  had  nothing  to  say  about 


OF  THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY.  93 

laying  taxes  or  making  laws  ;  the  idea  of  their  having  any 
rights  in  such  matters  was  laughed  at. 

The  duke's  grant  extended  from  the  Connecticut  to 
Maryland  ;  so  Andros,  in  the  summer  of  1675,  sailed  with  a 
little  fleet  for  Saybrook,  to  let  the  people  know  that  he  was 
their  governor.  The  brave  men  of  Connecticut  refused  to 
recognize  his  authority,  and  not  liking  their  resolute  looks 
he  sailed  back  to  New  York.  A  similar  attempt  was  made 
in  New  Jersey,  but  without  much  better  success.  Complaints 
against  the  administration  of  Andros  finally  led  to  his  recall. 
Dongan,  his  successor,  was  authorized  to  convoke  an  Assem 
bly,  and  allow  the  people,  for  the  first  time,  a  voice  in  their 
own  government  (1683). 

Under  Dongan  the  boundary  between  New  York  and 
Connecticut  was  settled,  nearly  as  it  is  at  present.  An  im 
portant  treaty  was  also  made  with  the  Iroquois  in  western 
New  York.  Hostilities  between  these  Indians  (the  Five 
Nations)  and  the  French  broke  out  soon  after  ;  Canada  was 
overrun,  Montreal  laid  waste,  and  hundreds  of  the  settlers 
of  New  France  were  massacred. 

When  the  Duke  of  York  became  King  James  II.  in  1685, 
the  concessions  that  had  been  made  to  the  people  of  New 
York  were  revoked,  and  there  was  a  return  to  the  tyranny 
of  former  times.  So,  on  hearing  in  1688  that  James  had  been 
driven  from  the  throne,  the  New  Yorkers  expelled  his  repre 
sentative,  and,  while  declaring  their  loyalty  to  the  new  sov 
ereigns,  William  and  Mary,  made  Jacob  Leisler  (lice'ler) 
provisional  governor.  Three  years  afterward,  the  governor 
appointed  by  William  and  Mary  arrived,  and  Leisler  surren 
dered  his  authority, — but  only  to  be  tried  on  a  charge  of 
treason  and  hanged. 

The  new  governor  did  little  for  the  colony.  His  succes 
sor,  Fletcher,  displayed  some  energy  in  repelling  an  incur 
sion  of  the  French  from  the  north  ;  but,  while  he  was  sus 
pected  of  favoring  the  pirates  that  infested  the  coast,  he 


94  NEW    ENGLAND   UNDER   ANDKOS.  [l686 

proved  himself  no  friend  of  popular  rights.  With  the  ap 
pointment  of  the  Earl  of  Bellamont  as  governor,  in  1698,  a 
better  era  dawned. 

New  England  under  Andros. — Shortly  after  his  accession, 
James  united  the  New  England  colonies  under  one  royal 
governor-general,  and  appointed  his  old  favorite,  now  Sir 
Edmund  Andros,  to  that  position  (1686).  The  charter  of 
Massachusetts  had  been  declared  forfeited ;  Plymouth  had 
none,  Not  receiving  from  Rhode  Island  the  surrender  of 
her  charter,  according  to  his  demands,  Andros  suppressed 
the  existing  government  of  that  colony,  and  then  (October, 
1687)  proceeded  to  Hartford  to  take  away  the  charter  of 
Connecticut, 

The  Assembly  was  in  session,  and  the  much-prized  instru 
ment  was  produced.  A  warm  debate,  in  the  presence  of 
Andros  and  an  excited  throng  of  towns-people,  was  pro 
tracted  into  the  night.  The  Assembly  was  on  the  point  of 
yielding  to  the  governor's  demands,  when  the  lights  were 
suddenly  put  out,  and  in  the  dark  the  precious  document  was 
spirited  away.  It  was  concealed  in  a  hollow  tree  known  as 
"  the  Charter  Oak,"  carefully  cherished  by  the  citizens  of 
Hartford  till  it  was  blown  down  during  a  violent  storm  in 
1856.  Andros  failed  to  effect  his  object,  but  he  declared 
Connecticut  a  part  of  his  government,  and  after  the  last 
entry  in  the  records  of  the  Assembly  wrote  the  word  Finis 
(THE  END). 

The  old  Puritan  order  of  things  was  now  indeed,  for  the 
time,  at  an  end  in  New  England.  The  Episcopal  Church 
was  established.  Persons  that  wished  to  be  married  had  to 
go  from  all  parts  of  Massachusetts  to  Boston,  for  there  was 
the  only  Episcopal  minister.  New  taxes  were  imposed. 
The  title  of  the  old  settlers  to  their  lands  was  called  in  ques 
tion,  and  to  make  it  good  heavy  fees  had  to  be  paid.  No 
one  was  allowed  to  leave  the  colony  without  a  pass  from  the 
governor.  With  all  this  the  men  of  Massachusetts  were  so 


1687] 


NEW    ENGLAND   UNDER   ANDKOS. 


95 


disgusted  that  they  would  not  observe  their  annual  Thanks 
giving,  because  Andros  appointed  it. 

But  one  day,  news  came  that  James  was  no  longer  king. 
Then  it  was  the  people's  turn.  They  rose  and  imprisoned 
Andros  ;  and  by  the  middle  of  May,  1689,  the  old  govern 
ments  were  reinstated  in  all  the  New  England  colonies. 


ANDROS  DEMANDING  THE  CHARTER  OP  CONNECTICUT. 

After  two  years'  importunity  Massachusetts  obtained  a 
new  charter  from  William  and  Mary,  by  which  Plymouth 
and  Maine  were  incorporated  in  that  colony  (1692).  At  the 
same  time,  Sir  William  Phipps,  a  native  of  Pemmaquid,  was 
appointed  governor.  An  illiterate  ship-master,  who  had  been 
knighted  for  having  fished  up  treasure  from  an  old  Spanish 
wreck  off  St.  Domingo,  Phipps  did  not  particularly  distin 
guish  himself,  and  retained  the  government  but  a  short  time. 


96  FLETCIIEK   IN   CONNECTICUT.  [l693 

Fletcher  in  Connecticut, — In  1693  the  good  people  of 
Connecticut  were  put  to  another  trial.  The  commission  of 
Fletcher  who  has  just  been  mentioned  as  governor  of  New 
York,  gave  him  authority  over  the  militia  of  Connecticut  as 
well  as  of  his  own  province,  and  he  went  to  Hartford  to 
assume  command  of  them.  But  the  militia  of  Connecticut 
preferred  to  be  commanded  by  their  own  officers.  The  troops 
were  paraded  ;  but  as  soon  as  Fletcher's  secretary  began  to 
read  the  governor's  commission,  Captain  Wadsworth  ordered 
the  drums  to  beat.  Fletcher  commanded  silence,  and  again 
the  reading  began  ;  again,  at  a  sign  from  Wadsworth,  the 
drums  drowned  every  other  sound.  The  enraged  Fletcher 
began  to  storm,  when  Captain  Wadsworth,  significantly 
stepping  up  with  his  drawn  sword,  bade  the  drummers  go 
on.  "If  you  interrupt  them  again,"  said  he  to  Fletcher,  "I 
will  m?ke  the  sun  shine  through  you."  And  Fletcher  inter 
rupted  them  no  more. 

King  William's  War. — A  collision  between  the  French 
and  English  in  the  New  World  had  to  come,  sooner  or  later. 
French  missionaries  and  fur-traders  had  explored  the  western 
rivers,  and  dotted  the  shores  of  the  Great  Lakes  with  scat 
tered  posts, — few  and  feeble,  it  is  true,  but  sufficient  for 
France  to  base  on  them  a  claim  to  the  whole  Mississippi 
Valley.  But  this  was  embraced  as  well  in  the  English 
grants,  which  ran  west  to  the  Pacific.  The  shores  of  Hud 
son  Bay,  and  Newfoundland,  valuable  on  account  of  its 
proximity  to  the  fishing-banks,  were  also  disputed  territory. 
The  French,  weakened  by  their  recent  conflict  with  the  Five 
Nations,  were  outnumbered  ten  to  one  by  the  English,  but 
had  powerful  allies  in  the  eastern  Indians. 

James  II.,  driven  from  the  throne  of  England,  took  refuge 
with  Louis  XIV.  of  France,  who  engaged  to  assist  him  in 
recovering  his  crown.  War  between  the  two  countries 
broke  out  in  1689.  It  spread  to  their  colonies  in  America, 
and  was  there  known  as  "King  William's  War."  Count 


1689]  KING  WILLIAM'S  WAR.  97 

Frontenac,  now  in  a  green  old  age,  was  a  second  time  made 
governor  of  New  France.  The  French  and  Indians  soon 
spread  terror  along  the  frontier.  The  tribes  of  Maine  and 
New  Hampshire  took  the  war-path  against  the  English,  and 
Dover  and  Pemmaquid  suffered  from  the  tomahawk  and 
scalping-knife.  Schenectady,  in  New  York,  the  gate  of  its 
palisade  left  unguarded,  was  surprised  one  bitter  night  in 
February,  1690,  by  a  band  from  Montreal.  The  houses  were 
fired,  the  sleeping  inhabitants  murdered,  and  but  few  escaped 
into  the  woods  half-naked,  to  make  their  way  through  a 
driving  snow-storm  to  Albany — 16  miles  distant — or  perish 
in  the  drifts.  The  settlements  on  the  Salmon  Falls  River 
and  Casco  Bay  (see  Map,  p.  65)  suffered  in  like  manner. 

The  northern  colonies,  having  to  bear  the  brunt  of  the 
contest,  united  for  their  own  protection.  Two  expeditions 
were  projected  ;  one  by  land  against  Montreal,  the  other  by 
sea  against  Quebec.  The  former  failed,  Frontenac  repulsing 
the  advanced  division,  and  the  main  body  not  even  reaching 
the  Canadian  border.  The  attack  on  Quebec  was  equally 
unsuccessful,  Phipps  (afterward  governor  of  Massachusetts) 
moving  so  slowly  that  Frontenac  was  prepared  for  either 
assault  or  siege.  Phipps,  however,  took  Port  Royal  and 
other  posts  in  Acadia.  Massachusetts  met  the  expenses  of 
the  expedition  with  bills  of  credit,  ranging  from  5s.  to  £5, — 
the  first  paper-money  ever  issued  in  the  English  colonies. 

Hannah  Dustin.  —  King  William's  War  continued  to 
afflict  the  colonies  till  1697.  Its  later  operations  were  car 
ried  on  mainly  by  the  Indian  allies  on  either  side.  One  in 
cident  connected  with  this  savage  warfare  has  made  the 
name  of  Hannah  Dustin  memorable. 

This  heroic  woman  was  confined  to  a  sick-bed  in  her  home 
near  Haverhill  (ha'ver-il — see  Map,  p.  62),  in  north-eastern 
Massachusetts,  when  the  town  was  attacked  by  Indians. 
Her  husband,  at  work  in  a  neighboring  field,  kept  off  the 
savages  with  his  gun  while  seven  of  his  children  made  their 
5 


98 


HEROISM   OF   MRS.    DUSTIN". 


[1697 


escape,  but  could  not  prevent  the  murder  of  his  new-born 
babe  or  the  capture  of  Mrs.  Dustin  and  her  nurse.  The  two 
latter  were  driven  along,  till  they  reached  an  island  in  the 
Merrimac  a  few  miles  above  Concord. 

Here  Mrs.  Dustin,  learning  that  she  was  to  be  taken 
many  miles  further,  resolved  to  regain  her  freedom.  A  boy 

was  her  fellow  -  captive. 
Waking  him  and  her  nurse 
one  night  when  the  Indians 
were  asleep,  she  assigned 
a  part  to  each,  and  bade 
them  strike  their  captors. 
Despair  nerved  the  feeble 
arms,  and  ten  stalwart  sav 
ages  were  slain  with  their 
own  tomahawks.  More 
merciful  than  they  had 
been  to  her,  Mrs.  Dustin 
spared  an  Indian  child,  and 
one  woman  escaped.  Seiz 
ing  on  the  canoe  that  had 
brought  them  thither,  the 
two  women  and  boy  then 
descended  the  Merrimac, 
and  were  soon  safe  among 
the  friends  who  had 
mourned  them  as  lost.  A 
granite  monument  reared  on  the  spot  (in  Bos'cawen,  N.  H.) 
commemorates  this  deed. 

The  Witch-Mania. — In  savage  warfare  atrocities  were 
to  be  expected,  but  they  were  almost  outdone  by  the  bloody 
scenes  enacted  in  1692  in  that  part  of  Salem  now  called 
Danvers.  A  strange  delusion  on  the  subject  of  witchcraft, 
originating  in  the  family  of  the  minister  of  Salem  and  en 
couraged  by  the  credulous  Cotton  Mather,  a  learned  young 


THE  DCSTIN  MONUMENT. 


1692]  THE   WITCH-MANIA.  99 

minister  of  Boston,  seized  on  the  people  of  Massachusetts. 
A  weak-minded  or  malicious  person  had  only  to  declare  that 
he  was  pinched,  pricked,  or  bruised  by  invisible  fingers,  and 
some  friendless  old  woman,  or  mayhap  one  of  his  own  kin 
dred,  would  be  arrested  as  a  witch,  convicted  on  worthless 
testimony,  and  then  put  to  death  on  the  gallows. 

Twenty  innocent  persons  thus  suffered  judicial  murder — 
not  to  mention  those  who  were  thrust  into  prison — before 
the  eyes  of  the  people  were  opened,  and  the  horrors  wrought 
by  a  few  fanatical  magistrates  and  ministers  were  brought 
to  an  end.  Most  of  those  concerned  in  the  witch-prosecu 
tions  finally  saw  and  lamented  their  error  ;  but  Mather  be 
lieved  in  witches  to  the  last,  and  wrote  a  book  to  justify  the 
murder  of  the  innocents  he  had  helped  to  condemn. 

Maryland. — In  1691,  William  and  Mary  made  Maryland 
a  royal  province,  revoking  its  charter.  The  Church  of  Eng 
land  was  established,  and  the  people  taxed  for  its  support. 
The  capital  was  removed  from  St.  Mary's  (1694)  to  Provi 
dence,  on  the  Severn  River,  afterward  called  Annapolis 
in  honor  of  Queen  Anne.  The  liberal  provisions  of  Lord 
Baltimore  were  for  a  time  set  aside  ;  but  after  twenty-four 
years  the  colony  was  restored  to  the  representative  of  the 
Calverts  as  proprietary,  and  its  government  remained  in  his 
family  till  about  the  time  of  the  Revolution.  Baltimore  was 
laid  out  in  1730,  and  Frederick  in  1745. 

Virginia. — In  Virginia,  Sir  Edmund  Andros  turned  up  as 
governor  in  1692  ;  and  here,  for  the  first  time  in  the  New 
World,  he  was  popular.  In  1698,  provision  was  made  for 
the  building  of  a  new  city  as  a  capital,  in  stead  of  James 
town.  Its  site  was  fixed  on  the  peninsula  between  the  York 
and  the  James  River  (see  Map,  p.  112)  near  the  spot  where  a 
college  endowed  by  the  sovereigns  and  bearing  their  names 
—  William  and  Mary — had  already  been  erected.  The  new 
capital  was  called  "Williamsburg,  and  was  laid  out  in  the 
form  of  a  W,  in  token  of  the  loyalty  of  its  builders. 


100  THE  NEW   WOELD   IN   1700. 


CONTEMPORARY    EVENTS    AND    RULERS. 

1  TOO. — Massachusetts,  New  York,  Maryland,  and  Virginia,  royal 
provinces,  ruled  by  governors  appointed  by  the  crown.  New  Hampshire 
united  to  Massachusetts.  Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island  under  charters 
which  allowed  them  to  choose  their  own  governors.  Government  of  the 
Jerseys  unsettled,  in  consequence  of  conflicting  claims.  Pennsylvania,  in 
cluding  "  the  three  Lower  Counties,"  under  William  Penn  as  governor. 
All  Carolina  held  by  the  same  proprietors,  who  appointed  different  governors 
for  the  north  and  south. 

Bellamont  governor  of  New  York  and  Massachusetts.  Captain  Kidd, 
arrested  in  Boston,  awaiting  trial  in  England  as  a  pirate.  The  original 
edifice  of  Trinity  Church,  New  York  City,  on  its  present  site,  four  years  old. 
Swearing  and  drunkenness  punished  with  ten  lashes  or  a  fine  of  five  shil 
lings,  in  Virginia.  The  woollen-manufacture  discouraged  in  the  colonies  by 
act  of  Parliament.  Love  of  liberty  and  impatience  of  oppression  charac 
teristic  of  all  the  colonies. 

Population  of  the  colonies  about  300,000.  Annual  exports  to  England 
about  $1,500,000.  Boston  the  largest  city.  Two  colleges  (Harvard,  Wil 
liam  and  Mary)  in  operation.  First  meeting  of  trustees  to  found  a  college 
in  Connecticut,  resulting  in  the  establishment  of  Yale,  first  at  Saybrook 
(1702),  afterward  at  New  Haven  (1717). — D'Iberville  (de-bare-veel1),  a  Cana 
dian  navigator  in  the  service  of  France,  exploring  the  lower  Mississippi. 

Mexico  and  the  other  possessions  of  Spain  in  the  New  World  under 
viceroys,  who  were  almost  absolute.  The  colonies  sacrificed  to  the  mother- 
country.  The  colonial  offices,  even  the  lowest,  bestowed  on  Spaniards,  and 
sometimes  sold  in  Madrid  to  the  highest  bidder.  Natives  kept  in  ignorance. 
In  Mexico,  the  colonists  prohibited  from  cultivating  flax,  hemp,  the  vine, 
etc.,— from  certain  manufactures,  and  from  foreign  trade  on  pain  of  death. 
Tobacco-raising  a  government  monopoly.  Annual  revenue  of  Mexico, 
$3,000,000.— Guiana  in  possession  of  the  Dutch  and  French. 

Jamaica,  in  the  West  Indies  (taken  from  the  Spanish  by  Admiral  Penn 
in  1655),  under  English  rule.  Agriculture  and  trade  flourishing,  having 
received  an  impetus  from  the  Buccaneers,  or  pirates,  who  spent  their  gains 
freely  on  the  island  between  1660Hind  1680.— The  western  part  of  St.  Do 
mingo  (Hayti)  in  possession  of  France. 

William  III.  king  of  England  and  stadtholder  of  the  United  Provinces. 
England  enjoying  the  light  of  literature  and  science ;  Sir  Isaac  Newton  at 
the  height  of  his  renown.  Louis  XIV.  of  France  in  the  fifty-seventh  year 
of  his  reign ;  his  greatness  waning.  Peter  the  Great,  of  Russia,  defeated  at 
Narva  by  Charles  XII.,  of  Sweden. 


INCIDENTS    OF    QUEEN   ANNE's    WAK.  101 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

QUEEN  ANNE'S  WAR.— SETTLEMENT  OF  GEORGIA. 
—  THE  SOUTH- WEST. 

Queen  Anne's  War.  —  Queen  Anne,  having  succeeded 
William  III.  on  the  throne  of  England  in  1702,  immediately 
engaged  in  the  War  of  the  Spanish  Succession  with  France 
and  Spain.  It  extended  to  the  American  colonies,  and  was 
there  called  "Queen  Anne's  War."  In  September,  1702, 
Governor  Moore  of  South  Carolina  made  a  descent  on  the 
Spanish  settlement  of  St.  Augustine.  He  took  the  town ; 
but,  while  he  was  waiting  for  artillery  with  which  to  attack 
the  fort,  two  men-of-war  belonging  to  the  enemy  made  their 
appearance  ;  and  Moore,  thinking  discretion  the  better  part 
of  valor,  beat  a  hasty — some  said  a  cowardly — retreat. 

Three  years  afterward,  this  same  governor,  with  a  few 
English  and  many  friendly  Creeks,  undertook  another  expe 
dition,  against  the  Spanish-Indian  settlements  near  Appa- 
lachee  Bay  (see  Map,  p.  102),  on  the  Gulf  coast  of  northern 
Florida.  He  succeeded  in  plundering  several  villages,  and 
taking  many  Indian  prisoners,  who  were  transplanted  to  the 
banks  of  the  Altamaha  (awl-td-md-haw').  The  French,  at 
tempting  an  attack  on  Charleston  in  1706,  were  repulsed. 

The  Deerfield  Massacre. — In  New  Hampshire  and  Mas 
sachusetts,  Queen  Anne's  War  was  characterized  by  the 
usual  Indian  barbarities.  The  massacre  at  Deerfield,  in 
northern  Massachusetts  (February,  1704),  was  full  of  hor 
rors.  The  place  was  surprised  just  before  dawn,  after  the 
sentinels  had  retired  from  their  posts.  Climbing  over  the 
palisades  on  snow-drifts  which  reached  their  top,  a  legion 
of  yelling  savages  were  soon  firing  the  houses  and  scalping 
the  inhabitants.  Those  who  escaped  immediate  death  were 
dragged  as  prisoners  to  Canada. 


102 


CAROLINA   DIVIDED. 


[1729 


One  day  years  afterward,  when  Deerfield  had  been  re 
built,  a  woman  attired  as  a  squaw  entered  the  village.  In 
reply  to  the  inquiries  of  the  people,  she  declared  herself  a 
daughter  of  the  former  minister  of  the  place,  who  had  been 
taken  captive  the  day  of  the  massacre.  Then  only  seven 
years  old,  she  had  grown  up  and  married  among  the  Indians. 
Curiosity  had  led  her  to  revisit  the  home  of  her  childhood  ; 
but  she  was  deaf  to  all  entreaties  to  remain,  and  after  a 
brief  stay  returned  to  her  husband  and  children  in  Canada. 
The  Treaty  of  Utrecht  (yoo'treki)  terminated  Queen 
Anne's  War  in  1713.  By  its  terms,  the  peninsula  of  Acadia, 
thenceforth  known  as  Nova  Scotia,  and  the  island  of  New 
foundland,  were  ceded  to  the  English. 

Founding  of  Georgia. — In  1729  Carolina  was  divided  into 

two  royal  prov 
inces,  distin 
guished  as 
North  and 
South,  King 
George  II.  hav 
ing  purchased 
the  rights  of 
the  proprietors. 
The  settlements 
of  the  south 
ern  province 
stopped  short 
of  the  Savan 
nah  ;  and  the 
region  west  of 
that  river,  as 
far  as  the  Alta- 

EARLT  SETTLEMENTS  IN  GEORGIA.  . 

maha,  the  king 

in  1732  granted  to  James  Edward  Oglethorpe  and  others, 
who  called  it  GEORGIA  in  honor  of  their  royal  patron. 


1733]  SETTLEMENT   OF   GEORGIA.  103 

Debt  was  at  this  time  in  England  punished  with  impris 
onment,  and  the  jails  had  been  full  of  unfortunates  who  had 
no  means  of  recovering  their  liberty.  Oglethorpe,  as  benevo 
lent  as  he  had  proved  himself  brave  under  Marlborough  and 
Prince  Eugene,  filled  with  compassion  for  these  helpless 
debtors,  had  obtained  the  release  of  many,  and  now  sought 
to  provide  homes  for  them  and  for  the  poor  generally  be 
neath  the  pleasant  sky  of  Georgia.  The  official  seal  of  the 
trustees  of  the  new  colony — a  group  of  silk-worms,  with  the 
legend  Not  for  themselves,  but  for  others — was  a  fitting  em 
blem  of  their  unselfish  aims. 

Savannah. — Oglethorpe  led  the  first  company  of  emi 
grants  in  person,  and  chose  for  their  place  of  settlement  a 
sightly  bluff  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Savannah  River,  eigh 
teen  miles  from  its  mouth,  having  first  obtained  the  consent 
of  its  Indian  owners.  Here  he  commenced  the  beautiful 
city  of  Savannah,  with  its  wide  streets,  and  cheerful  houses 
surrounded  with  gardens. 

Early  History  of  Georgia. — Jews,  Protestant  Austrians, 
Moravians  or  United  Brethren,  and  Scottish  Highlanders, 
found  a  home  in  Georgia.  Friendly  relations  were  early 
established  with  the  Indian  tribes  far  and  near.  Oglethorpe, 
having  returned  to  England,  in  1736  brought  out  a  larger 
party  than  before,  the  brothers  John  and  Charles  Wesley, 
afterward  distinguished,  with  the  eloquent  Whitefield  (whit'- 
field],  as  the  founders  of  Methodism,  accompanying  him. 

The  Spanish,  who  claimed  the  coast  almost  as  far  north 
as  Charleston,  naturally  felt  aggrieved  at  the  intrusion  of 
this  English  colony, — particularly  when  Oglethorpe  estab 
lished  posts  at  intervals  as  far  as  the  mouth  of  the  St.  John's 
River,  which  he  looked  upon  as  the  dividing  line  between 
English  and  Spanish  territory.  War  was  inevitable  ;  and  in 
the  summer  of  1740,  Oglethorpe,  desiring  to  anticipate  the 
enemy,  made  a  sudden  attack  on  St.  Augustine.  But  the 
place  was  too  strong  for  his  little  army. 


104 


EARLY   HISTORY   OF   GEORGIA. 


[1742 


In  1742  the  Spaniards  retaliated,  appearing  in  strong 
force  before  Frederica  (fred-e-re'ka  —  see  Map,  p.  102). 
They  would  no  doubt  have  taken  it,  but  for  a  ruse  of  Ogle- 
thorpe.  By  means  of  a  letter  written  to  a  deserter  in  their 
camp  as  if  he  had  been  a  spy,  he  led  the  enemy  to  believe 
that  a  British  fleet  was  near  at  hand,  and  thus  frightened 
them  into  a  retreat  after  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  reach 
the  town. 

Peace  returned  to  the  colony  in  time,  but  without  bring 
ing,  for  several  years,  the  expected  measure  of  prosperity. 
Some  of  the  settlers  were  not  the  right  stuff  for  pioneers ; 
nor  were  the  regulations  laid  down  by  the  trustees,  though 
well-intended,  always  the  wisest.  Indigo  and  silk  were  pro 
duced  in  the  Moravian  settlements,  but  elsewhere  agriculture 
languished.  Slavery,  at  first  prohibited  as  opposed  to  the 
interests  of  poor  white  laborers,  was  finally  allowed  in  com 
pliance  with  the  wishes  of  the  people.  From  that  time 
planting  was  carried  on  more  largely  and  profitably.  In 
1752  the  charter  was  surrendered  to  the  king,  and  as  a  royal 
province  Georgia  grew  steadily  in  population  and  wealth. 
,  French  Settle 

ments  in  the  South 
west.  —  Following  up 
La  Salle's  explorations 
(p.  82),  the  French, 
just  as  the  seven 
teenth  century  was 
closing,  attempted  to 
colonize  Louisiana. 
They  founded  Biloxi 
(be-lok'se),  on  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  in 
1G99,  and  seventeen 
years  later  Fort  Rosa 
lie  (ro-za-le')y  on  the 


FBENCII  SETTLEMENTS  IN  THE  SOUTH-WEST. 


ITll]  SETTLEMENTS   IN   LOUISIANA.  105 

Mississippi,  where  the  city  of  Natchez  now  stands — the  first 
settlements  in  the  present  state  of  Mississippi.  Several 
posts  were  also  planted  within  the  limits  of  what  is  now  Ala 
bama.  Mobile,  which  dates  from  1711,  was  the  early  capital 
of  the  French  province. 

New  Orleans,  the  first  permanent  settlement  in  our  pres 
ent  Louisiana,  was  laid  out  by  colonists  sent  over  in  1718, 
and  was  called  after  the  Duke  of  Orleans,  then  regent  of 
France.  Its  beginnings  were  humble,  the  occupants  of  the 
few  huts  first  thrown  up  among  the  canes  and  trees  ap 
parently  "  waiting  for  houses."  Its  advantages  for  com 
merce,  however,  were  so  evident  that  in  1723  it  superseded 
Mobile  as  the  capital. 

The  Mississippi  Scheme. — From  1717  to  1732,  Louisiana 
was  under  the  control  of  a  company  which  had  obtained 
from  the  French  government  grants  of  its  colonial  posses 
sions,  as  well  as  a  monopoly  of  the  foreign  trade,  and  on 
these  as  a  basis  of  credit  made  an  enormous  issue  of  paper- 
money.  "  The  Mississippi  Scheme,"  as  it  was  called,  man 
aged  by  an  unscrupulous  gambler  named  Law,  infatuated 
the  whole  French  people.  Inexhaustible  mines  were  to  be 
opened  in  Louisiana  and  to  enrich  everybody  connected  with 
the  company.  Nobles,  priests,  ladies,  all  classes,  contended 
for  the  stock,  and  the  shares  soon  rose  to  sixty  times  their 
original  price.  But  the  frenzy  was  as  short-lived  as  violent. 
One  day  in  May,  1720,  the  bubble  burst  ;  and  the  next,  a 
man  might  have  had  millions  of  Law's  paper-money  in  his 
pocket  and  yet  starved.  "Mississippi"  and  "Louisiana" 
were  for  a  time  names  of  evil  omen  among  the  French 
people,  and  immigration  came  to  a  stand-still. 

Louisiana  at  this  time  contained  several  thousand  inhab 
itants.  Agriculture  was  carried  on  chiefly  by  slave-labor. 
Rice  was  the  principal  crop  ;  tobacco  and  indigo  were  also 
raised.  Grain  for  the  support  of  the  settlers  came  down  the 
Mississippi  from  the  growing  Illinois  settlements,  in  increas- 


106 


EAELY   IIISTOKY    OF   LOUISIANA. 


[1729 


ing  quantities.  The  French  at  Fort  Rosalie,  attempting  to 
wrest  from  the  Natchez  Indians  their  ancient  capital,  were 
massacred  by  the  latter  (1729)  ;  and  a  few  months  afterward 
the  Natchez  were  in  turn  destroyed  as  a  nation  by  a  force 
from  New  Orleans.  Two  attempts  were  made  by  the  French 
to  punish  the  Chickasaws,  who  were  suspected  of  having  in 
stigated  the  attack  on  Fort  Rosalie,  but  neither  succeeded. 

There  is  nothing  further  to  note  in  the  history  of  Lou 
isiana  till  1762,  when  it  was  ceded  to  Spain. 


REVIEW— THE    THIRTEEN    COLONIES. 
We  have  now  traced  the  events  connected  with  the  birth  of  the  Thir 
teen  Colonies,  extending  from  1607,  the  date  of  the  founding  of  Virginia, 
to  1733,  when  the  first  settlement  was  planted  in  Georgia.     During  this 
period,  England  had  the  following  sovereigns : — 


JAMES  I.,     .         .         .  1603-1625 

CHARLES  I.,      .         .  1625-1649 

Commonwealth,        .  1649-1653 

Protectorate,         .  1653-1659 

OLIVER  CROMWELL,  1653-1658 

RICHARD  CROMWELL,  1658-1659 

Restoration,     .         .  .1660 


CHARLES  II., 
JAMES  II., 

WILLIAM  AND  MARY, 
WILLIAM  III.,  . 
ANNE, 
GEORGE  I., 
GEORGE  II., 


1660-1685 
1685-1688 
1689-1694 
1689-1702 
1702-1714 
1714-1727 
1727-1760 


Hevicu: — Let  one  scholar  write  on  the  blackboard  in  a  column  the 
names  of  the  Thirteen  Colonies,  in  the  order  of  their  settlement.  Let  an 
other,  in  a  second  column,  write  opposite  to  each  what  nation  planted  the 
first  settlement.  Let  a  third  supply  the  dates ;  a  fourth  write  the  name  of 
the  first  settlement,  or  where  it  was  made.  Other  members  of  the  class 
may  be  called  on  to  tell  who  was  sovereign  of  England  when  each  first  set 
tlement  was  made  (see  Table  above) — What  person  was  most  prominent  in 
the  founding  of  each  colony,  and  facts  connected  with  his  history— Any  in 
teresting  circumstances  connected  with  the  founding— What  colonies,  once 
distinct,  do  not  appear  among  the  Thirteen,  having  been  absorbed  in  some 
other — Which  of  the  colonies  were  royal  provinces. 

What  was  the  political  condition  of  Maine  ?  In  which  of  the  colonies 
did  slavery  exist  ?  At  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century,  what  moun 
tains  virtually  bounded  the  English  colonies  on  the  west  ?  How  far  did  they 
claim  to  extend  ?  What  powers  besides  England  had  settlements  in  North 
America  ?  Where  were  the  French  settlements  ?  Where  the  Spanish  ? 


1745]  CONQUEST   OF  CAPE  BKETON.  107 

CHAPTER  XIV.' 
KING  GEORGE'S  WAR.— WASHINGTON'S  MISSION. 

King  George's  War, — Queen  Anne's  War  (p.  101)  was 
followed  by  peace  with  France  till  1744.  In  this  year,  Vir 
ginia  and  Maryland  sought  to  strengthen  their  title  to  the 
lands  in  the  basin  of  the  Ohio,  by  purchasing  the  right  and 
interest  of  the  Iroquois  therein.  This  of  course  increased 
the  suspicion  of  the  French,  and  when  France  and  England 
arrayed  themselves  against  each  other  in  the  Old  World,  in 
the  War  of  the  Austrian  Succession,  their  American  colonies 
at  once  followed  the  example.  The  struggle  was  here  known 
as  "  King  George's  War." 

The  Capture  of  Louisburg,  a  fortress  of  immense  strength 
on  the  eastern  coast  of  Cape  Breton  Island  (kape  brit'fn — 
see  Map,  p.  56),  was  the  great  event  that  signalized  this 
war.  It  was  taken  from  the  French  by  some  four  thousand 
New  Englanders  —  fishermen,  lumberers,  mechanics,  and 
farmers — commanded  by  Gen.  Pep'perell,  a  native  of  Maine, 
and  aided  by  a  British  fleet. 

Merrily  rang  the  bells  of  Boston,  when  it  was  announced 
that  after  six  weeks'  siege  "the  Gibraltar  of  America,"  with 
its  walls  40  feet  thick  and  25  feet  high,  defended  by  a  hun 
dred  cannon,  had  surrendered  to  the  colonial  army  (June  17, 
1745).  Equally  great  were  the  rejoicings  when,  in  the  two 
following  years,  two  powerful  expeditions  sent  by  the 
French  for  the  recovery  of  Cape  Breton  utterly  failed.  And 
equally  great  was  the  mortification  when,  by  the  treaty 
which  closed  the  war  in  1748,  the  men  of  New  England  saw 
the  fruits  of  their  prowess  wrested  from  them  and  Louisburg 
restored  to  France,  while  the  boundaries  were  still  left  in 
dispute.  But,  if  attended  with  no  other  advantage,  King 
George's  War  had  taught  the  colonies  their  own  strength. 


108  CONFLICTING   CLAIMS.  [l749 

French  and  English  Claims.  —  The  peace  that  followed 
was  necessarily  of  short  continuance.  How  could  it  be 
otherwise,  when  the  English  were  gradually  working  their 
way  west  under  royal  grants  and  Indian  deeds,  while  the 
French  based  their  claims  on  discovery  and  actual  occu 
pancy,  and  had,  to  support  them,  a  cordon  of  forts  from 
New  Orleans  to  Detroit?  A  grant  made  by  the  English 
crown  in  1749,  of  500,000  acres  on  the  Ohio,  for  the  pur 
pose  of  planting  settlers  beyond  the  Alleghanies  and  trad 
ing  with  the  western  tribes,  brought  matters  to  a  crisis. 

The  Ohio  Company  soon  had  surveyors  at  work  on  their 
lands  ;  but  not  before  the  French,  pushing  down  from  their 
strong  post  of  Presque  Isle  (press  keel')  on  Lake  Erie,  had 
established  forts  at  Le  Boeuf  (leh  buff')  and  Venango  in 
the  north-west  of  Pennsylvania.  The  next  movement  on 
the  part  of  the  French  was  to  break  up  an  English  post  in 
what  is  now  western  Ohio,  and  to  carry  off  its  occupants 
as  captives.  The  governor  of  Virginia  saw  the  storm  com 
ing,  and  the  necessity  of  preparing  for  it.  But  first  by 
a  trusty  messenger  he  would  send  a  remonstrance  to  the 
French  commander,  and  demand  his  withdrawal  from  the 
Ohio  Valley.  For  this  delicate  mission  GEORGE  WASHING 
TON,  the  future  saviour  of  his  country,  was  selected. 

Youth  of  Washington,  —  Washington  was  born  on  the 
Potomac,  in  Westmoreland  County,  Virginia,  February  22, 
1732.  His  father,  one  of  the  high-toned  planters  of  Vir 
ginia,  left  him  an  orphan  at  the  age  of  eleven  ;  and  on  his 
mother,  whose  virtues  he  reverenced  and  whose  early  pre 
cepts  he  ever  remembered,  devolved  the  duty  of  moulding 
his  character.  His  youth  was  full  of  promise.  An  accom 
plished  horseman,  proficient  in  all  manly  exercises,  he  was 
no  less  amiable  in  disposition,  modest,  and  truthful.  His 
mother  summed  it  all  up  years  afterward,  when  he  had  be 
come  the  nation's  idol ;  "  I  am  not  surprised  at  his  success," 
she  said,  "  for  George  always  was  a  good  boy" 


1748] 


YOUTH    OF   WASHINGTON. 


109 


In  his  studies,  which  were  plain 
and  practical,  George  acquitted 
himself  with  credit.  He  became  a  good  mathematician,  and 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  was  employed  by  Lord  Fairfax  to  sur 
vey  his  extensive  lands  beyond  the  Blue  Ridge ;  a  respon 
sible  work  for  one  so  young,  and  not  without  its  dangers, 
yet  most  satisfactorily  performed.  At  nineteen  he  was  ap 
pointed  adjutant-general  of  a  military  district,  with  the  rank 
of  major.  This  position  he  held  two  years  afterward,  when 
the  governor  of  Virginia  sent  him  on  the  mission  referred 
to,  saying  with  a  broad  Scotch  accent,  "  Ye're  a  braw  lad, 
and  gin  ye  play  your  cards  weel,  ye  shall  hae  nae  cause  to 
rue  your  bargain." 

Washington's  Mission. —  The  "braw  lad"  started  from 
Williamsburg,  October  31,  1753,  on  his  journey  of  five  hun 
dred  miles — much  of  it  through  a  wilderness  full  of  perils. 


110  WASHINGTON'S  MISSION.  [1753 

His  course  (see  it  traced  on  the  Map,  p.  112)  led  him  to  the 
upper  Potomac,  across  the  Alleghanies,  down  a  tributary  of 
the  Monongahela  and  that  river  itself,  to  where  it  joins  the 
Alleghany  to  form  the  Ohio.  Noting  the  commanding  ad 
vantages  of  this  position,  Washington  went  on  to  Logstown, 
where  he  had  a  conference  with  the  Indians,  already  thor 
oughly  alarmed — inasmuch  as,  between  "their  fathers  the 
French  "  and  "  their  brothers  the  English,"  they  found  them 
selves  likely  to  be  left  without  land  enough  to  raise  a  wig 
wam  on.  He  succeeded  in  obtaining  from  them  new  prom 
ises  of  friendship,  and  accompanied  by  three  of  their  chiefs 
struggled  on  through  the  storms  of  early  winter  to  the 
French  forts,  Venango  and  Le  Boeuf. 

The  wily  Frenchman  received  Washington  courteously, 
but  declared  that  he  must  obey  his  orders ;  while  the  other 
officers  made  no  secret  of  their  intention,  as  soon  as  spring 
opened,  to  sweep  the  English  from  the  whole  Ohio  Valley. 
At  the  same  time  every  effort  was  secretly  made  to  cor 
rupt  Washington's  Indian  companions,  by  plying  them  with 
liquor  and  promises.  It  was  with  difficulty  that  the  young 
ambassador,  having  received  a  formal  reply  in  writing  for 
the  governor,  could  get  his  red  allies  away  from  the  fort. 

On  the  way  back,  Washington  was  environed  with  dan 
gers.  His  horses  were  jaded,  and  deep  snows  made  the 
journey  on  foot  toilsome  and  perilous.  The  streams  were 
swollen,  and  drifting  ice  jerked  him  from  a  raft  into  the  Al 
leghany,  where  he  narrowly  escaped  being  swept  away  and 
drowned.  Lurking  savages  lay  in  wait,  and  a  treacherous 
Indian  guide  fired  at  him  from  a  distance  of  fifteen  paces. 
But  Providence  saved  his  life.  He  completed  his  mission  in 
safety,  and  brought  back,  not  only  the  Frenchman's  reply, 
but  also  full  particulars  as  to  the  enemy's  preparations 
gathered  by  his  own  eye,  as  well  as  important  information 
gleaned  from  some  deserters,  respecting  the  French  forces 
at  the  posts  on  the  Mississippi. 


1754] 


FRENCH   AND   INDIAN   WAK. 


Ill 


A  great  struggle  was  at  hand.  It  is  known  as  the 
FRENCH  AND  INDIAN  WAR,  and  lasted  from  1754  to  1763. 
The  English  colonies  at  this  time  contained  about  1,500,000 
souls  ;  New  France,  scarcely  100,000. 


REVIEW    BY    DATES. 

Continue  the  CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD  from  page  87,  according  to  the 
following  suggestions.  As  a  review,  let  the  several  events,  as  filled  in,  be 
assigned  in  turn  to  different  pupils,  and  each  tell  what  he  knows  about  his 
topic. 

1698  (New  capital). 

1699  (Mississippi). 

1700  (D'Iberville). 
1702  (War). 
1704  (Massacre). 
1711  (City  founded). 
1713  (Acadia). 
1718  (City  founded). 
1729  (Carolina). 


1676  (New  Jersey). 

1680  (South  Carolina). 

1681  (Wm.  Penn). 
1683  (City  founded). 
1686  (Andros). 
1689  (War). 

1692  (Plymouth). 
"     (Witchcraft). 
1694  (New  capital). 


1729  (Massacre). 

1730  (The  Natchez). 
"     (City  founded). 

1732  (Washington). 

1733  (Georgia). 

1744  (War). 

1745  (City  taken). 
1749  (Grant). 
1753  (Washington). 


CHAPTER  XV. 
FRENCH  AND  INDIAN  WAR  BEGUN. 

Commencement  of  Hostilities. — Hardly  had  Washington 
made  his  report,  before  a  party  of  Virginians  were  at  work 
on  a  fort  at  the  junction  of  the  Alleghany  and  Monongahela 
Rivers.  Troops  were  enlisted  and  dispatched  as  promptly 
as  possible,  to  protect  the  laborers.  Illness  disabling  their 
colonel,  the  leadership  devolved  on  Washington,  who  had 
been  second  in  command.  Before  this  little  force  was  near 
its  destination,  a  thousand  Frenchmen  from  Venango 
swooped  down  on  the  unfinished  fort,  captured  it,  and 
going  on  with  the  work  gave  it  the  name  of  Du  Quesne 
(du  kane')9  the  governor-general  of  New  France. 


112 


FBENCH   AND   INDIAN   WAR. 


[1754 


The  Indian  allies  of  the  English,  now  exposed  to  attack, 
sent  urgent  messages  to  Washington  to  hurry  to  their  aid. 

But  cutting  roads 
and  dragging  cannon 
through  an  untrod 
den  wilderness  were 
slow  work.  At 
length,  informed  that 
a  party  of  French 
was  hovering  about 
him  with  hostile  de 
signs,  and  that  his 
Indian  allies  were 
not  far  off,  the  young 
commander  threw  up 
a  rude  stockade,  af 
terward  very  proper 
ly  named  Fort  Neces 
sity,  and  with  a  few 
of  his  Virginians 
pressed  on  to  meet 
the  Red  Men.  With 
them  he  planned  an 
immediate  attack  on 
the  enemy,  who  were 
found  to  be  but  a 

SCENE  OF  HOSTILITIES  IN  THE  OHIO  VALLEY.  reconnoitring -party, 

and  who  fancied  themselves  secure  in  a  concealed  encamp 
ment  near  at  hand.  A  few  moments  sufficed  for  the  defeat 
and  capture  of  the  French.  Their  leader  was  slain,  and  but 
one  of  the  party  escaped.  Washington  was  unhurt,  but 
"  heard  the  bullets  whistle,  and  found  something  charming 
in  the  sound." 

The  French  were  soon  moving  in  strong  force  from  Fort 
Du  Quesne,  to  avenge  this  reverse.     Straitened  for  supplies 


Presque  Isle    now  Erie 
Tt.LeBoeuf       ,,     Water/or d 
Venango  ,,     Franklin 

Ft.Du  Queme     , ,     Pittsburgh 
}\~>  ixJtinyton' s  Route 


1754]  PEOPOSED   UNION.  113 

and  disappointed  of  expected  re-enforcements,  Washington 
fell  back  to  Fort  Necessity  and  there  awaited  the  enemy. 
But  their  numbers  were  overwhelming.  For  a  day  (July  3, 
1754)  the  unequal  contest  was  maintained  ;  but  at  its  close 
the  English  were  glad  to  accept  the  honorable  terms  offered 
by  their  assailants.  The  next  morning  they  marched  out 
with  drums  beating  and  colors  flying,  leaving  Fort  Necessity, 
and  with  it  the  whole  region  west  of  the  Alleghanies,  in  the 
hands  of  the  French. 

Proposed  Union  of  the  Colonies.  —  Shortly  before  the 
capitulation  of  Fort  Necessity,  a  meeting  of  representatives 
from  the  colonies  north  of  the  Potomac  was  held  at  Albany. 
They  met  for  two  purposes  :  first,  to  take  such  measures  as 
would  confirm  the  wavering  loyalty  of  the  Iroquois  of  west 
ern  New  York  (commonly  called  "  the  Six  Nations,"  after 
the  Tuscaroras  were  received  in  1714)  ;  secondly,  to  bring 
about  a  confederation  of  the  colonies,  with  a  view  to  united 
action  during  the  struggle  with  the  French.  Presents  and 
promises  somewhat  appeased  the  sachems  who  attended  the 
conference,  though  they  complained  of  the  slow  movements 
of  the  English  ;  but  the  proposed  union  failed.  The  plan 
submitted  to  the  colonies,  prepared  in  the  main  by  Benjamin 
Franklin,  a  delegate  from  Pennsylvania,  proved  unsatisfac 
tory  and  was  rejected. 

Franklin,  one  of  the  shining  lights  in  the  early  history 
of  America,  was  born  in  Boston  in  1706.  First  an  assistant 
to  his  father  in  the  art  of  making  candles,  and  later  an  ap 
prentice  in  an  elder  brother's  printing-office,  where  he  em 
braced  every  opportunity  to  store  his  mind  with  useful 
knowledge,  he  finally  at  the  age  of  seventeen  started  out 
to  seek  his  fortune,  and  arrived  in  Philadelphia  with  but  a 
dollar  in  his  pocket.  From  this  time  we  find  him  steadily 
advancing — enlarging  his  ideas  by  a  visit  to  London — estab- 
lishing  a  printing-office  of  his  own  in  Philadelphia — found 
ing  the  first  circulating  library  in  America — publishing 


114  FBENCH   AND  INDIAN  WAE.  [l755 

"  Poor  Richard's  Almanac " — and  filling  different  official 
positions  with  ability,  till  at  last  he  was  made  postmaster- 
general  for  the  British  colonies. 

Franklin  was  a  great  philosopher  as  well  as  statesman. 
His  establishment  of  the  fact  that  thunder  and  lightning  are 
simply  the  results  of  electric  discharges  in  the  clouds,  ranks 
among  the  great  discoveries  of  the  age.  This  he  proved 
with  a  kite  raised  in  the  air  during  a  thunder-storm  (June, 
1752);  the  electric  fluid  was  collected  in  a  key  attached  to  the 
string,  and  passed  in  a  spark  to  his  knuckle  when  presented. 
The  invention  of  the  lightning-rod  followed.  An  eminent 
French  statesman  justly  said  of  Franklin,  that  "  he  wrested 
the  thunderbolt  from  heaven  and  the  sceptre  from  tyrants." 

Braddock's  Campaign. — England  and  France  professed  to 
be  at  peace,  yet  both  sent  forces  to  the  New  World  to  sup 
port  their  colonies.  On  the  part  of  the  former,  Gen.  Brad- 
dock  was  intrusted  with  the  chief  command.  He  brought 
over  two  regiments,  which  were  to  be  strengthened  with 
colonial  levies,  and  meeting  several  of  the  governors  on  the 
Potomac  arranged  the  plan  of  the  campaign.  The  principal 
expedition  was  undertaken  by  the  commander-in-chief  in 
person.  It  had  in  view  first  the  recovery  of  the  Ohio  Val 
ley,  and  then  the  reduction  of  Forts  Niagara  and  Frontenac 
(see  Map,  p.  112).  Washington  joined  Braddock's  army  as 
aid.  In  spite  of  great  difficulties  of  transportation,  the  ad 
vanced  division,  on  the  9th  of  July,  1755,  reached  a  point  on 
the  bank  of  the  Monongahela  about  seven  miles  from  Fort 
Du  Quesne. 

Here  the  French,  who  had  with  difficulty  persuaded  their 
savage  allies  to  join  in  an  attack  on  the  approaching  army, 
had  laid  an  ambuscade  ;  into  which  Braddock,  inexperienced 
in  Indian  wiles  and  disregarding  the  warnings  of  Washing 
ton,  but  too  easily  fell.  The  terrible  war-whoop  was  sud 
denly  raised,  and  a  heavy  fire  opened  on  both  flanks.  In 
vain  the  British  troops  returned  it ;  the  foe,  sheltered  be- 


1755]  BKADDOCK'S  CAMPAIGN.  115 

hind  trees  and  rocks,  were  invisible.  In  vain  the  British 
officers,  who  behaved  with  the  utmost  bravery,  tried  to  lead 
their  men  into  the  covert,  to  clear  it  with  the  bayonet.  Un 
used  to  such  warfare,  even  the  veterans  were  panic-struck. 
Braddock  was  mortally  wounded.  The  order  to  retreat  was 
given,  and  then  commenced  a  disgraceful  flight.  Braddock's 
fine  army  was  destroyed.  The  French,  who  had  expected 
no  such  result  and  had  actually  thought  of  abandoning  Du 
Quesne,  gained  a  complete  victory. 

Washington,  ever  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  had  two 
horses  shot  under  him,  and  received  four  bullets  through  his 
coat,  but  escaped  without  a  wound.  Many  years  afterward, 
an  old  chief  told  him  that  he  had  been  fired  at  repeatedly  by 
both  himself  and  his  braves,  but  that  finding  him  proof 
against  their  bullets  they  at  last  gave  it  up,  convinced  that 
he  was  under  the  special  protection  of  the  Great  Spirit. 
With  his  few  surviving  Virginia  Rangers,  he  covered  as  well 
as  he  could  the  melancholy  retreat.  But  everything  was 
lost  ;  even  the  post  at  the  mouth  of  Will's  Creek,  where  the 
city  of  Cumberland  now  stands,  was  abandoned.  The  fron 
tier  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  was  thus  left  at  the  mercy 
of  marauding  bands,  and  many  who  had  established  them 
selves  beyond  the  Blue  Ridge  sought  safety  in  the  older 
settlements. 

Braddock's  expedition  having  failed,  the  colonial  force 
that  was  to  have  acted  with  him  against  Forts  Niagara  and 
Frontenac  accomplished  nothing  but  the  building  of  a  new 
fort  at  Oswego,  on  the  south-eastern  shore  of  Lake  Ontario. 

Movements  near  Lake  George. — Braddock's  plan  had  in 
cluded  an  expedition  under  Gen.  William  Johnson  against 
the  French  fortress  at  Crown  Point.  This  place,  on  the 
western  side  of  Lake  Champlain,  was  important  as  one  of 
the  keys  to  Canada.  Fort  Edward  having  been  built  on  the 
upper  Hudson,  Johnson  advanced  with  several  thousand  co 
lonial  troops  to  the  head  of  the  beautiful  Horicon,  whose 


116 


FEENCII   AND   INDIAN   WAK. 


[1755 


Indian  name  he  changed  to  Lake  George  in  honor  of  the 

reigning  king. 

While  he  was  here  waiting  for  boats,  Dieskau  (clees'ktiw), 

with  an  army  of  French  and  Indians  from  Montreal,  was  re 
ported  to  be  but 
a  few  miles  off. 
A  detachment 
sent  out  to  hold 
him  in  check  was 
driven  back  in 
confusion  ;  and 
Dieskau,  pursu 
ing  the  fugitives 
to  camp,  made  a 
vigorous  assault 
on  the  main  body 
(September  8, 
1755).  His  In 
dians,  however, 
refused  to  come 
to  close  quar 
ters  ;  the  colo 
nial  troops  stood 
their  ground  gal 
lantly  ;  Dieskau 
was  thrice  se 
verely  wounded; 
and  the  French, 
after  a  sharp 
struggle,  were 
repulsed  with 
loss.  But  John- 

LAKE  GEORGE  AND  VICINITY.  .  ,       „ 

son,  in  stead  of 

following  up  this  victory,  for  which  the  country  was  little  in 
debted  to  him  though  it  procured  him  the  honor  of  knight- 


1755]  CONQUEST  OF  ACADIA.  117 

hood,  allowed  the  French  to  take  post  at  Ticonderoga,  and 
contented  himself  with  building  Fort  William  Henry  near 
the  scene  of  the  battle. 

Conquest  of  New  Brunswick. — Nova  Scotia  had  for  forty 
years  been  under  British  rule  ;  but  the  country  from  the 
isthmus  to  Maine,  constituting  what  is  now  New  Brunswick, 
was  still  in  possession  of  the  French,  who  had  three  weak 
forts  to  protect  it.  These  were  easily  taken,  and  with  them 
the  whole  region,  by  a  naval  and  land  force  sent  out  from 
Boston  in  May,  1755.  The  innocent  Acadians  were  then 
with  wanton  cruelty  required  to  leave  the  province  ;  their 
thriving  flocks,  and  fruitful  farms,  and  pleasant  homes,  must 
be  given  up  to  satisfy  the  greed  of  their  conquerors.  Thou 
sands  of  this  hapless  people  were  forced  on  board  of  British 
vessels — half-clad,  without  resources,  and  broken-hearted, 
children  separated  from  parents,  wives  torn  from  husbands 
— and  distributed  among  the  colonies,  to  die  in  exile  and 
despair.  England  had  not  much  to  boast  of  in  her  subjuga 
tion  of  Acadia. 

Movements  of  1756. — In  the  spring  of  1756,  France  and 
England  could  no  longer  ignore  the  state  of  things  in  Amer 
ica,  and  war  was  formally  declared.  The  accomplished  Mar 
quis  de  Montcalm  (mont-kahm1)  was  appointed  to  the  chief 
command  of  the  French  forces,  the  inefficient  Lord  Loudoun 
(Idw'd'n)  to  that  of  the  English.  Soon  after  his  arrival, 
Montcalm  made  a  dash  upon  Oswego  ;  and  by  the  middle  of 
August  it  was  in  his  hands,  with  its  artillery,  stores,  boats, 
and  sixteen  hundred  prisoners.  Loudoun  did  nothing,  and 
New  York  had  the  pleasure  of  feeding  a  host  of  idle  officers 
through  the  winter. 

GENERAL     REVIEW. 

Tell  all  you  know  about  the  founding  and  situation  of  ST.  AUGUSTINE, 
JAMESTOWN,  QUEBEC,  NEW  YORK,  ALBANY,  PLYMOUTH,  BOSTON,  HARTFORD, 
PROVIDENCE,  NEW  HAVEN,  NEWPORT,  MONTREAL,  CHARLESTON,  PHILADELPHIA, 


118  FRENCH   AND   INDIAN   WAE.  [l757 

ANNAPOLIS,  WILLIAMSBURG,  DETROIT  (1701),  MOBILE,  NEW  ORLEANS,  BALTI 
MORE,  SAVANNAH. 

Recount  all  the  circumstances  you  can  remember,  connected  with 


THE  PEQUOD  WAR,  1636,  1637 

KING  PHILIP'S  WAR,         1675,  1676 
BACON'S  REBELLION,  1676 


KING  WILLIAM'S  WAR,  1689-1697 
QUEEN  ANNE'S  WAR,  1702-1713 
KING  GEORGE'S  WAR,  1744-1748 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

FRENCH  AND  INDIAN  WAR   CONCLUDED. 

Loudoun  at  the  Front. — As  his  work  for  the  summer  of 
1757,  Lord  Loudoun  proposed  the  capture  of  Louisburg 
(p.  107).  He  sailed  to  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia,  in  June,  with 
both  regulars  and  colonial  troops,  and  was  there  heavily  re- 
enforced  from  England.  If  Loudoun  could  have  taken  Louis- 
burg  by  drilling  his  fine  army  on  the  parade-ground  at  Hali 
fax,  he  would  have  done  it.  But  when  he  heard  that  there 
was  one  more  ship  in  the  French  fleet  than  his  own,  he  gave 
up  the  enterprise  and  sailed  back  to  New  York,  the  laugh 
ing-stock  of  the  colonies. 

Capture  of  Fort  William  Henry. — Montcalm  was  cast  in 
a  different  mould.  Moving  rapidly  from  Canada  and  ascend 
ing  Lakes  Champlain  and  George  at  the  head  of  an  army  of 
French  and  Indians,  he  threw  himself  on  Fort  William  Henry 
(see  Map,  p.  116).  Here  Colonel  Monro  was  in  command. 
He  held  the  fort  till  half  of  his  guns  had  burst  and  there 
was  little  or  no  ammunition  left  with  which  to  serve  the 
rest,  in  the  hope  that  Gen.  Webb,  who  lay  with  4,000  men 
at  Fort  Edward,  only  fourteen  miles  away,  would  hasten  to 
his  relief.  But  no  such  thought  was  in  Webb's  mind.  He 
wrote  to  Monro  that  he  had  better  surrender,  and  talked 
himself  of  falling  back  on  Albany. 


1757]  CAPTURE   OF  FORT   WILLIAM   HENRY.  119 

For  Monro,  there  was  nothing  left  but  to  capitulate.  This 
he  did,  August  9,  1757,  on  the  promise  of  a  safe  escort  to 
Fort  Edward,  his  men  pledging  themselves  not  to  serve 
against  France  for  eighteen  months.  But  no  sooner  had 
the  evacuation  commenced,  than  the  Indians  began  plunder 
ing  the  English  soldiers  and  slaying  them  if  they  resisted. 
Vainly  the  French  officers  risked  their  lives  to  protect  their 
late  enemies  ;  the  retreat  was  turned  into  a  flight  and  mas 
sacre.  Fort  William  Henry  was  destroyed.  Webb,  glad  to 
be  let  alone,  made  no  effort  even  to  harass  the  French  as 
they  withdrew.  The  incompetency  of  her  leaders  had  cost 
England  dear.  At  the  close  of  1757,  her  territory  in  Amer 
ica  was  reduced  to  one-twentieth  of  that  held  by  France. 

Events  of  1758. — The  year  1758  opened  under  better 
auspices.  The  far-seeing  statesman,  William  Pitt,  called  to 
the  head  of  affairs  in  the  mother-country,  had  taken  ener 
getic  measures  for  conducting  the  war.  The  weak  Loudoun 
was  recalled,  and  abler  generals  were  sent  over.  The  colo 
nies  were  invited  to  raise  troops,  and  it  was  now  for  the 
first  time  conceded  that  their  officers  should  rank  with  offi 
cers  of  corresponding  grades  in  the  regular  service. 

REPULSE  AT  TICONDEROGA. — "The  great  Commoner," 
as  Pitt  was  called,  was  the  people's  idol ;  and  the  colonies 
responded  heartily  to  his  call.  Nine  thousand  provincial 
troops  were  soon  on  the  shores  of  Lake  George,  to  co5perate 
with  6,000  regulars  under  Generals  Abercrombie  and  Howe, 
for  the  capture  of  Ticonderoga  (see  Map,  p.  116).  Montcalm 
held  this  post  with  less  than  4,000  men,  but  he  was  a  host 
in  himself.  Howe  was  the  main  reliance  of  the  English 
army,  but  unfortunately  he  was  slain  in  a  skirmish  before 
the  French  works  were  reached.  Abercrombie  rashly  ordered 
an  assault  before  his  cannon  were  brought  up.  When  af 
ter  repeated  attempts  and  great  slaughter  his  men  were  beat 
en  back,  he  seems  to  have  forgotten  his  artillery  altogether, 
and  abandoning  the  enterprise  beat  a  precipitate  retreat. 


120  FRENCH   AND   INDIAN  WAR.  [lT58 

This  failure  was  partially  compensated  by  the  capture  of 
Fort  Frontenac,  on  Lake  Ontario  (see  Map,  p.  112),  with  its 
garrison,  valuable  stores,  and  several  armed  vessels  —  an 
achievement  due  to  Gen.  Bradstreet  and  the  provincial 
troops. 

CONQUEST  OF  CAPE  BRETON. — Shortly  after  Abercrom- 
bie's  repulse,  the  colonies  were  gladdened  by  the  news  that 
Louisburg,  and  with  it  Cape  Breton  and  Prince  Edward 
Island,  had  been  taken  (July  26th)  by  Gen.  Amherst,  with 
10,000  British  troops  direct  from  England  and  thirty-seven 
men-of-war.  Along  the  whole  eastern  coast,  the  French 
flag  was  no  longer  visible.  Louisburg  was  abandoned,  Hali 
fax  having  already  become  the  chief  naval  station  of  Great 
Britain  in  this  quarter. 

CAPTURE  OF  FORT  Du  QUESNE. — The  third  expedition, 
toward  which  the  central  colonies  contributed  largely,  had 
in  view  the  recovery  of  Fort  Du  Quesne.  Owing  to  ill- 
judged  delays,  success  was  doubtful,  when  Washington  ob 
tained  permission  to  push  on  with  a  brigade  of  provincials. 
The  French  stayed  not  for  their  coming,  but  hastened  down 
the  Ohio  by  the  light  of  their  burning  works,  to  which  they 
had  themselves  applied  the  torch.  On  the  25th  of  Novem 
ber,  1758,  the  British  flag  was  raised  over  the  smoking  ruins 
of  Du  Quesne.  In  honor  of  the  great  minister  who  had  so 
nobly  retrieved  the  fortunes  of  his  country  in  America,  the 
new  fortress  speedily  erected  on  the  site  was  called  Fort 
Pitt,  whence  the  name  of  the  present  city  of  Pittsburgh. 

Washington,  not  yet  twenty-seven,  returned  from  this 
expedition  covered  with  glory,  and  six  weeks  afterward 
married  Mrs.  Martha  Custis.  With  her  he  settled  down  at 
Mount  Vernon,  a  fine  estate  on  the  Potomac  inherited  from 
his  brother.  Here,  except  when  Washington  was  required 
at  Williamsburg  as  a  member  of  the  House  of  Burgesses, 
they  passed  the  next  fifteen  years — the  husband  industrious 
ly  managing  his  large  plantation,  and  indulging  his  taste  for 


1759] 


EVENTS    OF    1759. 


121 


MOUNT  VERNON. 


duck-shooting  and  fox-hunting  —  the  wife,  ever  attentive  to 
her  household  duties,  superintending  fifteen  spinning-wheels, 
and  entertaining  her  numerous  guests  with  peculiar  grace. 

The  results  of  the  year's  campaign  were  highly  encourag 
ing  to  England.  The  French  colonists,  on  the  other  hand, 
ill  supported  by  the  home  government  and  almost  famine- 
struck,  began  to  cry  for  "peace,  no  matter  with  what 
boundaries." 

The  Campaign  of  1759  was  planned  with  judgment  and 
carried  out  with  vigor.  General  Amherst,  to  whom  the 
chief  command  was  assigned,  seized  on  Ticonderoga  and 
Crown  Point,  the  French  retiring  before  him  into  Canada 
without  giving  battle.  Equally  bloodless  was  the  recovery 
of  the  country  between  Fort  Pitt  and  Lake  Erie.  Fort 
Niagara,  at  the  point  where  the  Niagara  River  enters  Lake 
Ontario,  stood  a  brief  siege,  but  toward  the  close  of  July 
fell  before  the  English  arms. 

THE  CAPTURE  OF  QUEBEC  was  now  the  sole  link  that  re 
mained  to  complete  the  chain  of  British  triumphs.  Before 
6 


122 


FKENCH    AND   INDIAN    AVAR. 


[1759 


this  seemingly  impregnable  fortress,  defended  by  2,000 
French  regulars  and  four  times  as  many  brave  but  untried 
Canadian  militia  under  Montcalm,  near  the  end  of  June 
appeared  Gen.  James  Wolfe,  with  8,000  British  regulars 
and  more  than  forty  armed  vessels.  The  lower  town  was 
soon  razed  to  the  ground ;  but  the  citadel,  perched  on  a 
lofty  promontory,  every  approach  to  which  bristled  with 
guns,  defied  his  utmost  efforts. 

A  month  went  by,  and  Wolfe,  chafing  under  the  delay 
and  resolved  not  to  disappoint  his  country,  planned  an  as 
sault  on  the  French  lines  below  the  city  resting  on  the 
Montmorency  (mont-mo-reri 'se)  River.  The  attempt  was 

bravely  made,  but  as 
bravely  met  and  de 
feated  by  his  vigilant 
adversary.  Another 
month  passed,  and 
Wolfe  was  almost  in 
despair.  At  length, 
while  closely  inspect 
ing  the  cliff  above  the 
town,  the  quick  eye 
of  the  commander 
espied  a  narrow  path 
leading  up  from  the 
river,  rugged  and  dif 
ficult  indeed,  yet  not  impassable  to  resolute  men.  Could 
this  pathway  be  ascended,  the  slender  guard  at  the  top  be 
surprised,  and  the  British  army  be  formed  upon  the  Plains 
of  Abraham,  which  extended  along  the  brow  of  the  cliff, 
success  was  almost  certain. 

Slight  though  the  chance,  Wolfe  felt  that  it  was  worth 
the  risk.  The  attention  of  the  enemy  was  diverted  by 
feints  in  other  quarters,  and  on  the  night  of  September  12th 
the  English  •  army  floated  noiselessly  down  with  the  tide, 


QUEBEC 

A:ND  THE 

VICINITY 


1759]  WOLFE'S  CAPTURE  OF  QUEBEC.  123 

landed,  and  began  to  climb  the  precipitous  bluff.  A  few 
shots  dispersed  the  Canadian  picket  that  guarded  the  height, 
and  in  the  gray  dawn,  the  British  host  stood  ready  for  bat 
tle  on  the  Plains  they  had  so  long  desired  to  reach. 

Montcalm,  though  thunderstruck  at  the  news,  hastened 
to  give  battle.  But  the  discipline  of  the  British  veterans 
was  too  much  for  the  burghers  of  Quebec,  and  even  for  the 
regulars  whom  they  supported.  The  French  wavered,  and 
when  charged  by  their  enemies  led  by  Wolfe  in  person  gave 
way  at  every  point.  But  in  the  very  arms  of  victory  the 
youthful  hero  was  mortally  wounded.  The  shades  of  death 
had  gathered  on  his  brow,  when  he  was  told  that  the  French 
were  in  full  flight.  "  Now  God  be  praised — I  die  happy  !  " 
were  his  last  words. 

No  less  glorious  was  the  fate  of  Montcalm,  who,  after 
performing  prodigies  of  valor,  received  a  musket-ball  while 
rallying  his  men.  Informed  that  he  must  die  in  a  few  hours, 
he  exclaimed:  "So  much  the  better  ;  I  shall  not  live  to  see 
the  surrender  of  Quebec."  Nor  did  he.  The  next  morning 
he  breathed  his  last  ;  the  city  held  out  four  days  longer. 
How  the  true  hearts  in  England  and  the  colonies  leaped 
with  joy  at  the  news  that  Quebec  was  taken  ! 

Close  of  the  War. — In  the  spring  of  1760,  the  French, 
descending  from  Montreal,  tried  to  recapture  Quebec,  but 
after  winning  a  battle  near  the  city  were  driven  off  by  a 
British  squadron.  Four  months  later  (September,  1760) 
three  English  armies,  advancing  respectively  from  Oswego, 
Quebec,  and  Crown  Point,  were  concentrated  before  Mon 
treal.  Resistance  to  this  overwhelming  force  was  out  of  the 
question.  The  French  governor  at  once  surrendered,  not 
only  the  city,  but  all  Canada. 

Thus  gloriously  to  the  English  arms  terminated  the  land 
operations  of  the  French  and  Indian  War.  When  the  young 
king,  George  III.,  took  his  seat  on  the  throne  in  October, 
1760,  he  found  his  rivals  in  the  New  World  completely  hum- 


124  FKENCH    AND    INDIAN    WAK.  [lT62 

bled.  The  French  islands  in  the  West  Indies  were  soon 
taken  by  a  British  fleet  ;  and  in  August,  1762,  Havana,  the 
capital  of  Cuba  and  key  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  was  wrested 
from  Spain,  which  had  rushed  madly  into  hostilities  with 
England. 

France  could  no  longer  protract  the  struggle.  By  a 
treaty  ratified  in  1763,  she  gave  up  all  her  territory  in 
America — the  country  east  of  the  Mississippi,  New  Orleans 
excepted,  to  the  English — all  the  rest,  New  Orleans  and 
Louisiana  west  of  the  great  river,  to  the  Spanish,  as  an  in 
demnification  for  their  losses  in  the  war.  Spain,  in  exchange 
for  the  captured  Havana,  ceded  the  whole  of  Florida  to 
England. 

The  people  of  Louisiana  did  not  like  the  transfer  from 
France  to  Spain ;  and,  as  the  latter  power  did  not  take  im 
mediate  possession,  they  set  up  an  independent  government. 
But  it  was  short-lived.  A  fleet  was  sent  over  in  1768,  the 
popular  leaders  were  put  down,  and  Spanish  authority  was 
finally  established. 

Cherokee  War. — Before  the  capture  of  Montreal  as  just 
related,  difficulties  had  arisen  with  the  Cherokees  (see  Map, 
p.  38),  up  to  this  time  faithful  allies  of  the  English.  Wise 
counsels  might  easily  have  averted  war ;  but  unfair  treat 
ment  on  the  part  of  the  pale-faces  provoked  the  red  moun 
taineers  to  dig  up  the  tomahawk,  and  the  frontier  of  Carolina 
suffered.  It  was  not  till  the  Cherokee  country,  situated  in 
the  upper  valley  of  the  Tennessee  River,  was  ravaged  by  an 
invading  army,  not  till  their  villages  were  burned  and  many 
of  their  warriors  were  killed,  that  peace  was  restored  (1761). 

Pontiac's  War. — As  soon  as  England  had  taken -posses 
sion  of  the  posts  acquired  in  the  French  and  Indian  War,  a 
stream  of  emigration  poured  into  the  fertile  plains  beyond 
the  Alleghanies.  The  western  Indians  at  once  took  alarm. 
Under  the  inspiration  of  Pontiac,  a  sagacious  chief  of  the 
Ottawas,  they  formed  a  secret  plot  for  the  extermination  of 


1763]  PONTIAC1  S   WAR.  125 

the  new-comers.  Treacherous  attacks  were  simultaneously 
made  on  the  different  garrisons,  and  all  the  western  posts 
except  Fort  Pitt,  Niagara,  and  Detroit,  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  savages. 

Failing  to  surprise  Detroit,  Pontiac  beleaguered  it  in 
person,  showing  great  skill  in  his  conduct  of  the  siege,  and 
issuing  birch-bark  notes,  signed  with  the  figure  of  an  otter 
and  always  punctually  met,  to  pay  for  his  supplies.  But 
Detroit  held  out  till  relief  came  from  the  east.  In  .the  sum 
mer  of  1764,  most  of  the  tribes,  tired  of  the  siege  and  awed 
by  the  preparations  of  the  English,  signed  a  treaty  of  peace. 
Pontiac,  worthy  of  a  better  fate,  was  murdered  by  an  Indian 
bribed  with  a  barrel  of  rum  to  commit  the  crime. 


GENERAL    REVIEW    AND     MAP    QUESTIONS. 

(Refer  to  the  Maps  on  pages  112,  116,  122.) 

Name  three  French  posts  in  what  is  now  north-western  Pennsylvania, 
at  the  commencement  of  the  French  and  Indian  War.  How  was  Presque 
Isle  situated  ?  On  what  river  was  Venango  ?  What  place  now  covers  the 
site  of  Presque  Isle?  Of  Fort  Le  Boeuf?  Of  Venango  ?  Of  Fort  Du 
Quesne  ? 

How  was  Fort  Du  Quesne  situated  ?  Narrate  the  incidents  connected 
with  its  erection.  What  Indian  town  stood  on  the  Ohio,  just  below  Fort 
Du  Quesne  ?  What  places  were  in  Pennsylvania,  on  or  near  the  Susque- 
hanna  ?  What  capital  has  grown  up  at  Harris's  Ferry  ? 

Give  an  account  of  Washington's  mission.  What  was  the  general  di 
rection  of  his  route  ?  Through  what  places  did  he  pass  ?  Where  was  Fort 
Necessity  ?  Relate  the  events  connected  with  this  fort. 

What  river  connects  Lake  Erie  with  Lake  Ontario  ?  What  fort  stood 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara  River  ?  What  is  the  outlet  of  Lake  Ontario  ? 
Where  was  Fort  Frontenac  ?  In  what  connection  did  you  first  hear  of  Fort 
Frontenac  ?  Where  is  Oswego  ?  In  what  connection  was  Oswego  first  men 
tioned  ?  Where  were  the  Six  Nations  ?  To  what  great  Indian  family  did 
they  belong  ? 

How  is  Albany  situated  ?  Schenectady  ?  Give  an  account  of  the  mas 
sacre  at  Schenectady.  How  was  Fort  Edward  situated  ?  Where  was  Dieskau 
defeated  ?  Where  was  Fort  William  Henry  ?  By  whom  was  it  erected  ? 


126  THE   EVE   OF   THE   REVOLUTION.  [l763 

With  what  body  of  water  is  Lake  George  connected  ?  What  place  on 
Lake  Champlain,  just  below  the  inlet  from  Lake  George  ?  How  was  Crown 
Point  situated  ?  Under  what  circumstances  was  Lake  Champlain  discovered  ? 
What  place  stood  near  its  head  ?  What  is  Skenesborough  now  called  ? 
Whitehall.  What  was  the  Indian  name  of  Lake  George  ?  What  was  its 
French  name?  Saint  Sacrement  (sans  sak-rc-monQ '}. 

Describe  the  situation  of  Quebec.  What  rivers  empty  into  the  St. 
Lawrence  near  the  city  ?  What  point  opposite  Quebec,  and  what  island 
near  by  ?  In  what  direction  from  the  city  was  the  point  where  Wolfe  made 
his  first  attack  ?  In  what  direction  from  Quebec  is  Wolfe's  Cove,  where  the 
ascent  was  made  ? 


CHAPTER,  XVII. 

THE  EVE  OF   THE  REVOLUTION. 

Clouds  gathering. — While  England  had  gained  glory  and 
territory  by  the  French  and  Indian  War,  she  had  also  added 
largely  to  her  debt.  No  sooner  was  peace  restored  than  she 
determined  to  get  back  from  her  American  possessions  what 
she  had  spent  in  defending  them.  The  colonies  thought 
England  pretty  well  compensated  for  the  cost  of  the  war 
by  the  acquisition  of  Canada  and  Florida;  yet  they  would 
willingly  have  borne  part  of  the  load,  had  they  been  allowed 
a  voice  in  laying  the  duties  or  taxes  to  be  imposed.  But 
they  insisted  that  taxation  without  representation  was  an 
infringement  on  the  rights  of  freemen  ;  that  the  power  to 
tax  them  should  be  vested  in  their  own  colonial  assemblies, 
— or  that,  if  Parliament  were  to  exercise  it,  they  should  be 
represented  in  Parliament. 

Accordingly,  we  find  the  history  of  the  next  twelve  years 
(1763-1775)  a  history  of  unwise  attempts  on  the  part  of  the 
mother-country  to  increase  her  revenues  at  the  expense  of 
the  colonies  ;  and,  on  the  part  of  the  colonies,  of  spirited 
and  united  resistance  to  these  attempts.  The  clouds  on  the 


1761]  WEFTS   OF   ASSISTANCE.  127 

horizon  rapidly  spread,  till  they  darkened  the  whole  heavens  ; 
and  in  1775  the  storm  burst,  in  what  is  known  as  the  REVO 
LUTIONARY  WAK. 

Writs  of  Assistance. — Oppressive  measures  were  nothing 
new  to  the  colonies.  Their  trade  and  manufactures  had  for 
years  been  restricted  in  the  interest  of  England.  Heavy 
duties  had  been  laid  on  certain  imports,  and  as  a  consequence 
smuggling  had  become  common.  To  put  a  stop  to  it,  on  the 
accession  of  George  III. — a  short-sighted,  tyrannical,  and 
stubborn  prince — "  Writs  of  Assistance  "  were  authorized. 
Provided  with  these,  the  collectors  of  customs  could  call 
sheriffs  and  constables  to  their  aid,  search  any  man's  house 
or  store,  and  carry  off  merchandise  suspected  of  having 
evaded  the  duty. 

Such  interference  with  private  rights  was  violently  de 
nounced  in  the  colonies.  At  Salem,  Mass.,  the  issuing  of 
Writs  of  Assistance  was  formally  opposed  in  court ;  and 
when  the  question  was  argued  in  Boston  (1761),  James  Otis, 
who  appeared  for  the  people,  poured  forth  such  a  torrent  of 
eloquent  reasoning  that  the  judges  durst  not  decide  against 
him.  Every  man  in  the  vast  audience  seemed  ready  to  fly 
to  arms  rather  than  submit  to  the  wrong.  "  American  inde 
pendence,"  said  John  Adams,  afterward  president  of  the 
United  States  and  one  of  Otis's  auditors  on  this  occasion, 
"  was  then  and  there  born." 

Samuel  Adams,  also,  an  inflexible  patriot  of  Boston, 
whose  every  dip  of  the  pen  the  wincing  governor  declared 
stung  "like  a  horned  snake,"  dealt  telling  blows  at  the 
usurpations  of  Parliament.  And  so  in  the  South.  Virginia 
declared  the  taxation  of  America  subversive  of  the  constitu 
tion  ;  and  the  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  set  forth  the  ex 
clusive  right  of  the  colonies  to  impose  their  own  taxes.  The 
people  everywhere  resolved  to  deny  themselves  the  dutiable 
articles.  They  would  drink  no  wine  ;  they  would  dress  in 
sheep-skin  with  the  wool  on. 


128 


THE   EVE    OF   THE   REVOLUTION. 


[1765 


SPECIMENS  OF   STAMPS. 


The  Stamp  Act. — Notwithstanding,  the  men  in  power  in 
Great  Britain  (Pitt  had  resigned  in  1761)  kept  their  obnox 
ious  laws  in  full  force.  The  climax  was  capped  when  in 
1765  Parliament  passed  the  notorious  Stamp  Act.  This  act 
required  that  every  contract,  deed,  bond,  will,  note,  lease, 

etc., — also  every 
pamphlet,  alma 
nac,  and  news 
paper, — should 
bear  a  stamp. 
The  prices  of 
stamps  ranged 
from  a  half 
penny  to  £6  ; 
and  for  every 
advertisement  in 
a  colonial  paper,  2s.  was  to  be  paid  as  an  impost.  Now, 
indeed,  the  sun  of  liberty  seemed  to  have  set. 

Patrick  Henry. — Among  the  members  of  the  Virginia 
House  of  Burgesses  at  this  time  was  Patrick  Henry  ;  who, 
having  tried  farming  and  merchandise  without  success,  had 
settled  down  at  the  law.  His  first  appearance  in  court  had 
been  in  1763,  in  the  famous  "  Parsons'  Cause."  The  clergy, 
by  an  old  statute,  were  allowed  salaries  of  16,000  pounds  of 
tobacco  a  year.  The  House  of  Burgesses,  in  a  season  of 
short  crops,  had  made  this  salary  payable  in  cash,  rating  the 
tobacco  at  much  less  than  its  real  value.  The  clergy  in 
sisted  on  their  rights,  and  appealed  to  the  law  ;  Patrick 
Henry  conducted  the  case  against  them.  His  awkward 
opening  gave  little  promise  ;  but  as  his  genius  was  aroused, 
the  whole  man  became  transformed.  His  grand  flow  of 
language,  his  withering  sarcasm,  his  impassioned  appeals, 
swayed  every  heart,  triumphantly  gained  his  case,  and  pro 
claimed  him  one  of  the  world's  great  orators. 

This  was  the  man  who,  when   the  news   of  the  Stamp 


1765]  THE   STAMP   ACT.  129 

Act's  passing  reached  Virginia,  after  vainly  waiting  for  the 
older  members  to  take  action,  threw  a  fire-brand  into  the 
House  in  the  shape  of  five  resolutions,  which  declared  that 
the  right  of  taxing  the  colonies  belonged  to  the  colonies 
themselves  and  to  them  alone — and  that  the  Stamp  Act,  and 
every  other  act  that  contravened  this  right,  was  destructive 
of  freedom.  These  resolutions  he  advocated  with  an  elo 
quence  which  Washington,  who  was  a  member  of  the  house, 
and  Jefferson,  the  future  president,  an  interested  listener  in 
the  lobby,  never  forgot. 

"  Caesar  had  his  Brutus,"  thundered  the  orator,  "  Charles 
I.  had  his  Cromwell,  and  George  Ill.-r-"  "  Treason  !  trea 
son  ! "  interrupted  angry  loyalists  in  different  parts  of  the 
house.  "  And  George  III.,"  repeated  the  speaker,  his  eye 
lighted  up  with  the  flame  of  patriotism,  "  and  George  III. 
may  profit  by  their  example.  If  that  be  treason,  make  the 
most  of  it."  The  resolutions  were  carried,  and  from  this 
time  Patrick  Henry  was  an  acknowledged  leader  in  the  cause 
of  liberty. 

Mutterings  of  the  Tempest. — The  same  spirit  of  deter 
mined  opposition  was  displayed  in  Maryland  and  Carolina, 
as  well  as  in  the  north  and  east.  A  Colonial  Congress  was 
proposed,  and  in  October,  1765,  delegates  from  nine  of  the 
colonies  met  in  New  York,  who  put  forth  a  Declaration  of 
Rights  and  memorialized  Parliament  on  the  subject  of  their 
grievances.  But  no  matter  what  king  or  Parliament  might 
do,  the  people  of  the  colonies  resolved  to  nullify  the  odious 
act. 

The  stamps  sent  over  were  either  prevented  from  land 
ing  or  seized  and  destroyed.  The  officers  charged  with  their 
sale  were  driven  out.  Any  one  who  should  use  the  hated 
stamps  was  threatened  with  vengeance.  The  merchants 
agreed  to  import  no  goods  from  England  till  Parliament 
should  rescind  the  bill.  Associations  known  as  the  Sons  of 
Liberty,  pledged  to  resist  oppression,  were  formed  in  sev- 


130 


THE    EVE   OF    THE   REVOLUTION. 


[1765 


eral  of  the  colonies.  Great  was  the  excitement  on  the  1st 
of  November,  1765,  when  the  Stamp  Act  was  to  go  into 
effect.  In  some  places,  the  shutters  were  kept  up  at  the 
windows,  people  gathered  in  the  streets  dressed  in  mourn 
ing,  the  flags  were  placed  at  half-mast,  the  bells  were  tolled 
— it  was  as  if  Liberty  were  being  buried. 

Soldiers  sent  over. — Parliament  saw  that  the  Stamp  Act 
could  not  be  enforced,  and  listening  to  Pitt,  Burke,  and  Lord 
Camden,  after  excited  debate  repealed  it  (1766).  But  it 
reaffirmed  its  right  of  taxation,  and  the  following  year  laid 
a  duty  on  all  paper,  glass,  painters'  colors,  and  tea,  imported 
into  the  colonies.  This  produced  a  new  storm  of  indigna 
tion  in  America, 
which  was  height 
ened  when  it  was 
told  the  patriots 
of  Boston  that 
British  troops 
were  to  be  sent  to 
that  city  (1768). 
Faneuil  (fan'you- 
'/)  Hall  resounded 
with  the  denuncia 
tions  of  indignant 
patriots, and  when 
the  troops  landed 
it  was  hard  to  find 
quarters  for  them. 
Their  presence 
was  regarded  as  a  standing  insult,  and  their  overbearing 
conduct  involved  them  in  brawls  with  the  citizens. 

The  Boston  Massacre  (March  5,  1770)  was  the  most 
serious  of  these  collisions.  Provoked  by  a  mob  of  boys  and 
men,  who  hooted  them  as  "  bloody-backs  "  and  "  lobsters  " 
in  allusion  to  their  scarlet  coats,  and  it  was  said  threw  mis- 


FANEUIL  HALL,  "THE  CRADLE  OF  LIBERTY." 


1771]  THE  REG-ULATOKS.  131 

siles  at  them,  a  few  of  the  soldiers  fired  into  the  crowd,  kill 
ing  three  and  wounding  eight.  The  town  was  immediately 
wild  with  excitement.  The  next  day,  Samuel  Adams,  as  the 
mouth-piece  of  the  infuriated  citizens,  demanded  the  imme 
diate  withdrawal  of  the  soldiers.  The  governor,  not  liking 
his  resolute  front  yet  hating  to  yield,  consented  to  remove 
one  of  the  regiments.  "  Both  or  none  !  "  demanded  Adams 
with  flashing  eye.  The  people  triumphed  ;  and  "  Sam 
Adams's  regiments,"  as  they  were  afterward  called,  found 
safer  if  less  comfortable  quarters  in  the  adjacent  castle. 

The  Regulators. — Meanwhile,  in  North  Carolina,  the  ex 
tortion  and  insolence  of  dishonest  officials  were  resisted  by 
a  body  of  stout-hearted  farmers  leagued  together  under  the 
name  of  Regulators.  Governor  Tryon,  who  had  spent  large 
sums  wrung  from  the  people  on  a  palace  for  himself  at  New- 
bern,  in  1771  marched  against  the  Regulators  as  "  rebels," 
took  and  hanged  some  of  them,  ravaged  their  fields,  and 
confiscated  their  property.  Many  fled  to  the  west,  and  there 
in  the  wilderness  beyond  the  Alleghanies,  on  lands  leased 
from  the  Cherokees,  laid  the  foundations  of  the  common 
wealth  of  TENNESSEE. 

Tea-Parties. — The  absence  of  orders  from  America,  in 
consequence  of  the  compact  between  the  leading  importers 
there,  seriously  affected  trade  in  England,  and  led  in  1770 
to  the  repeal  of  all  duties  except  that  on  tea.  But  this  did 
not  satisfy  the  colonists,  who  were  contending  for  a  prin 
ciple.  Tea  remained  under  a  ban,  and  accumulated  in  the 
warehouses  of  London.  In  vain  did  Parliament,  by  abolish 
ing  the  export  duty  before  imposed,  enable  shippers  to  lower 
the  price,  as  a  bait  to  the  colonies.  The  cargoes  sent  over 
found  no  market. 

At  Boston,  the  governor  determined  that  the  tea  should 
be  landed  ;  the  people  said  no.  Thousands  gathered  in  a 
town-meeting  held  on  the  subject  and  protracted  into  the 
evening  (December  16,  1773)  ;  when  suddenly  a  war-whoop 


132  THE   EVE   OF  THE  REVOLUTION.  [l773 

rent  the  air,  and  fifty  men  dressed  as  Mohawks  were  seen 
passing  swiftly  to  the  wharf.  They  mounted  the  sides  of 
the  three  vessels,  not  yet  unloaded,  and  in  the  presence  of  a 
vast  crowd  broke  open  the  tea-chests  and  scattered  their 
contents  over  the  water.  Long  was  "the  BOSTON  TEA- 
PAKTY"  remembered,  The  example  was  followed  in  New 
York.  At  Philadelphia  and  Portsmouth,  the  tea-ships  were 
turned  back.  At  Charleston,  nobody  would  buy  "  the  per 
nicious  weed ; "  and  the  whole  cargo,  though  landed,  was 
spoiled  in  damp  cellars.  The  patriots  of  Annapolis  burned 
the  tea  sent  to  that  port,  together  with  the  ship  that 
brought  it. 

The  Boston  Port  Bill  was  passed  by  Parliament  in  tho 
spring  of  1774,  as  a  punishment  for  this  audacity.  No  ves 
sel  was  now  allowed  to  discharge  or  receive  freight  in  Boston 
harbor,  and  the  commerce  of  that  port  was  thus  destroyed. 
Sympathy  was  awakened  on  every  side.  Salem  and  Marble- 
head  placed  their  wharves  at  the  disposal  of  the  Boston 
merchants.  The  Burgesses  of  Virginia  appointed  a  day  of 
fasting  and  prayer,  and  their  house  was  dissolved  in  conse 
quence  by  the  governor.  On  the  almost  simultaneous  rec 
ommendation  of  this  body,  the  Connecticut  legislature,  and 
various  public  meetings,  a  congress  of  representatives  from 
all  the  colonies  was  called  for  September,  to  take  such 
measures  as  the  crisis  required. 

Spirit  of  Young  America, — General  Gage  became  gov 
ernor  of  Massachusetts  in  May,  1774.  One  of  his  first  efforts 
was  to  buy  over  Samuel  Adams  with  a  profitable  office  under 
the  crown,  but  that  honest  lover  of  his  country  was  proof 
against  the  bribe. 

In  all  the  signs  of  the  times,  Gage  read  the  coming  con 
flict.  He  was  waited  on  one  day  by  a  party  of  Boston  boys, 
who  complained  that  the  soldiers  broke  up  their  skating- 
ponds  and  interfered  with  their  sports  generally  ;  they  had 
told  the  captain,  and  been  laughed  at  and  called  young 


1774]  THE   CONTINENTAL   CONGRESS.  133 

rebels  for  their  pains.  "Yesterday,"  continued  the  leader, 
"  our  works  were  destroyed  for  the  third  time,  and  we  will 
bear  it  no  longer  !  "  Gage  listened  with  admiration.  "  Even 
the  children,"  said  he,  "  draw  in  the  love  of  liberty  with 
every  breath.  Go,  my  brave  boys  ;  if  my  soldiers  trouble 
you  again,  they  shall  be  punished." 

Nor  were  the  boys  elsewhere  slow  to  imbibe  the  spirit  of 
their  sires.  In  some  neighborhoods  there  were  sympathizers 
with  the  mother-country  ;  these  were  stigmatized  as  Tories — 
a  name  applied  in  England  to  the  advocates  of  royal  power. 
The  schoolmaster  at  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  belonged  to  this 
class,  and  offended  many  by  his  free  remarks  about  "  the 
rebels."  So  one  day  his  boys,  printing  the  word  TORY  in 
big  letters  on  a  piece  of  paper,  slyly  pinned  it  to  his  back  as 
he  was  leaving  school  at  recess,  and  then  with  high  glee  and 
grotesque  capers,  but  carefully  keeping  out  of  reach  of  his 
cane,  followed  him  as  he  stalked  majestically  down  the  street 
unconscious  of  the  trick,  to  the  great  amusement  of  the 
passers-by. 

The  Storm  ready  to  burst. — The  first  CONTINENTAL  CON 
GRESS  met,  according  to  appointment,  in  Philadelphia,  Sep 
tember  5.  1774.  It  had  drawn  together  some  of  the  leading 
minds  of  the  colonies — Washington,  Richard  Henry  Lee, 
and  Peyton  Randolph,  of  Virginia ;  Rutledge  and  Gadsden, 
of  South  Carolina  ;  John  Jay,  of  New  York,  the  first  chief- 
justice  of  the  United  States  ;  the  Adamses,  and  others  of 
like  standing.  On  the  action  of  this  body  depended  the 
fate  of  America.  The  members  felt  the  awful  responsibility  ; 
and  after  the  house  was  organized,  there  was  a  pause — no 
one  seemed  ready  to  speak. 

At  length  a  tall,  thin,  plainly-dressed  man  arose  ;  and 
one  who  was  present  regretted  that  a  seeming  country  par 
son  should  so  far  have  misjudged  his  own  talents  as  to  take 
the  lead  in  that  august  assemblage.  But  soon  the  impas 
sioned  eloquence  that  burst  from  the  speaker's  lips  touched 


134 


THE    EVE    OF   THE    REVOLUTION. 


[1774 


every  heart,  as  if  with  an  electric  spark;  and  when  the 
whisper  went  round  that  it  was  Patrick  Henry,  the  great 
champion  of  constitutional  liberty,  the  course  of  the  con 
gress  was  easily  foreseen.  Though  it  took  no  action  looking 
toward  a  severance  from  the  mother-country,  this  body  re 
solved  that  Massachusetts  should  be  supported,  drew  up  a 
remonstrance  to  Gen.  Gage  against  fortifying  Boston  Neck 
as  he  had  begun  to  do,  and  prepared  a  respectful  but  plain- 
spoken  petition  to  the  king. 

In  October,  a  "  Provincial  Congress  "  met  in  Massachu 
setts — the  successor  of  the  Assembly,  or  General  Court, 
which  had  been  dissolved  by  Gage.  This  body,  with  John 
Hancock,  a  man  of  education  and  statesmanship  as  well  as 
large  fortune,  at 
its  head,  promptly 
prepared  for  war. 
A  Committee  of 
Safety  was  ap- 
pointed,  with 
power  to  call  out 
the  militia,  and 
provision  was 
made  for  obtain 
ing  military 
stores.  Similar 
measures  were 
adopted  in  the 
other  colonies  ; 

one  spirit  animated  all.  Patrick 
Henry  sounded  the  keynote  when 
in  March,  1775,  he  told  the  conven 
tion  of  Virginia,  assembled  in  "the 
Old  Church"  at  Richmond,  that  they 
must  fight,  and  cried,  "  As  for  me,  give  me  liberty  or  give 
me  death  !  "  The  time  had  indeed  come.  Already  had  Par- 


•  THE  OLD  CntiRcn  "  (Sx.  JOHN'S), 
RICHMOND. 


1775]  THE   EYE   OF   THE  REVOLUTION.  135 

liament  declared  (February  7,  1775)  that  rebellion  existed 
in  Massachusetts  ;  and,  to  suppress  it,  a  fleet  and  several 
thousand  additional  troops  had  been  ordered  to  Boston. 
Before  entering  on  the  history  of  the  conflict,  it  may  be 
well  to  glance  at  the  state  of  society  at  this  time  in  the 
colonies. 

The  People.— The  population  of  the  Thirteen  Colonies, 
at  the  commencement  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  was  about 
2,800,000.  It  lay  mainly  in  a  narrow  strip  along  the  Atlan 
tic.  A  few  bold  pioneers  had,  indeed,  crossed  the  moun 
tains.  Tennessee  had  given  refuge  to  some  hundreds  of 
emigrants  from  Carolina.  Daniel  Boone  and  kindred  spir 
its  had  found  a  paradise  in  Kan-tuck-kee,  the  dark  and 
bloody  battle-ground  of  hostile  tribes.  What  is  now  Ohio 
could  boast  of  settlers  here  and  there.  But,  for  the  most 
part,  the  Alleghanies  were  the  western  limit  of  civilization. 

The  people,  sprung  from  different  sources,  differed  also 
in  their  habits  and  religious  views.  They  were  alike  in  their 
passionate  love  of  freedom,  and  many  of  them  had  been  well 
trained  to  the  use  of  arms  in  the  French  War  and  Indian 
frays.  Virginia  led  the  other  colonies  in  wealth  and  num 
bers.  New  York  was  surpassed  in  population  by  Maryland, 
and  equalled  by  North  Carolina.  Philadelphia,  New  York, 
and  Boston,  each  containing  not  far  from  20,000  souls,  were 
the  chief  cities.  Charleston  had  several  thousand  inhabit 
ants,  Baltimore  was  but  a  village,  and  in  all  Virginia  there 
was  no  large  town. 

Industrial  Pursuits. — Agriculture  was  the  chief  pursuit. 
The  implements  were  rude,  but  the  virgin  soil  yielded  over 
flowing  harvests.  Wheat,  corn,  and  potatoes,  were  the 
staples  of  the  northern  and  middle  colonies.  In  Virginia, 
tobacco  was  a  more  profitable  crop,  the  yield  in  1775  being 
estimated  at  $4,000,000.  South  Carolina  was  famous  for  its 
rice,  which,  exported  annually  to  the  value  of  $2,000,000, 
enabled  her  aristocratic  planters  to  live  in  luxury.  Cotton 


136  THE    EVE    OF   THE   REVOLUTION.  [l775 

was  cultivated  somewhat,  but  only  for  domestic  use  in  coarse 
fabrics. 

Manufactures  and  commerce,  at  one  time  flourishing, 
languished  under  the  selfish  policy  of  the  mother-country. 
Some  necessary  simple  articles,  indeed,  were  made  in  every 
household  ;  but  English  factories  had  the  exclusive  privilege 
of  supplying  all  the  better  fabrics  for  clothing,  all  expensive 
furniture,  all  iron  machines  and  implements,  even  down  to 
the  nail — unless  the  farmer  himself  hammered  out  his  own 
nails  in  winter.  The  Boston  ship-yards  had  once  turned  out 
many  a  well-modelled  bark,  which  had  been  exchanged  for 
sugar  and  rum  in  the  West  Indies  ;  but  the  day  for  this  was 
over.  The  fisheries,  both  cod  and  whale,  gave  employment 
to  many,  and  had  trained  up  a  host  of  adventurous  sailors 
along  the  whole  New  England  coast. 

Education, — In  most  of  the  colonies,  every  village  had 
its  church  and  school.  In  the  Dutch  towns,  the  dominie 
often  officiated  as  schoolmaster.  Several  colleges  besides 
those  heretofore  mentioned,  had  been  established  ;  among 
these  were  the  College  of  New  Jersey  at  Princeton,  and 
King's  College  (now  Columbia)  at  New  York. 

Printing-presses  had  multiplied,  and  standard  English 
books  were  no  longer  rare.  Except  the  theological  works 
of  Jonathan  Edwards  and  Cotton  Mather,  colonial  litera 
ture  had  as  yet  produced  little  besides  sermons  and  political 
pamphlets.  The  three  largest  cities  could  each  boast  of  five 
newspapers,  but  there  was  no  daily. 

Travelling  in  those  days  was  an  undertaking,  especially 
when  the  roads,  never  too  good,  were  breaking  up  in  spring. 
The  day  of  steam  was  not  yet.  Travellers,  both  men  and 
women,  went  on  horseback, — or,  between  important  places, 
in  public  wagons,  sometimes  without  springs.  In  1772,  the 
first  stage-coach  in  the  colonies  was  put  on  the  route  be 
tween  Boston  and  Providence,  taking  two  days  for  the  trip. 
When  the  vehicles  of  a  new  line  accomplished  the  journey 


1775] 


THE   EVE    OF   THE   REVOLUTION. 


137 


TRAVELLING  IN  THE  OLDEN  TIME. 

from  New  York  to  Philadelphia  in  two  days,  the  astonished 
public  called  them  "  flying-machines."  Sloops  carried  pas 
sengers  on  the  rivers,  and  between  places  on  the  coast. 

Habits  and  Usages. — A  hundred  years  had  wrought 
great  changes  in  the  New  World  as  well  as  the  Old.  Com 
forts  had  increased  ;  the  views  of  the  people  had  become 
more  liberal.  As  to  dress,  in  the  cities  at  least  it  was  losing 
its  primitive  simplicity.  Pantaloons  had  not  yet  come  into 
fashion  ;  but  knee-breeches  of  broadcloth  and  plush  were 
worn,  with  velvet  surtouts  and  camlet  cloaks.  Gay  silks 
and  velvets  adorned  the  ladies,  with  cambric  caps  and 
aprons  of  lawn  or  taffeta.  A  kersey  short-gown  was  the 
common  home-garb. 

Soft  feather-beds,  with  fine  home-spun  sheets  and  calico 
quilts  of  cunning  patchwork,  were  the  special  pride  of  the 
housewife.  China  and  silver  ware  were  scarce  ;  most  peo 
ple  put  up  with  delft  and  polished  pewter.  Stoves  and 
franklins  were  used  a  little,  but  the  open  fireplace  still  had 


138  THE    EVE   OF   THE   REVOLUTION.  [l775 

the  preference.  Mahogany  furniture  was  fashionable  for 
those  who  could  afford  it ;  and  straight-backed  chairs,  high- 
post  bedsteads,  solemn  sideboards,  and  big  tables  with  leaves, 
were  the  ornaments  of  the  best  rooms. 

The  southern  planters  were  proverbial  for  their  hospi 
tality  ;  their  tables  always  groaned  under  a  weight  of  good 
things.  New  England  was  famous  for  its  succotash — beans 
boiled  with  corn  in  the  milk — an  Indian  dish  ;  also,  for  its 
Saturday  dinner  of  salt  codfish,  its  baked  pork  and  beans, 
and  its  "  hasty  -pudding "  of  boiled  corn-meal,  eaten  with 
milk,  butter,  or  molasses.  Coffee  was  hardly  known  in 
America  before  1750.  By  that  time  tea  had  become  a 
favorite  beverage,  though  costly  ;  in  1745,  it  sold  for  seven 
dollars  a  pound. 

REVIEW    OF    THE     FRENCH    AND     INDIAN    WAR. 

Let  different  members  of  the  class  be  called  on  to  mention  in  order  the 
events  in  the  following  ABSTRACT.  As  each  event  is  mentioned,  let  one 
write  it  on  the  blackboard,  while  another  tells  all  that  he  knows  about  it. 

1754.  French  take  the  fort  begun  by  the  English  on  the  site  of  Pittsburgh. 
Washington  defeats  a  party  of  French  at  the  Great  Meadows. 
Washington  surrenders  Fort  Necessity. 

1755.  English  conquer  New  Brunswick.     Acadians  driven  out. 
Braddock's  campaign  and  defeat. 

Dieskau,  at  first  victorious,  defeated  at  Lake  George. 

1756.  French,  under  Montcalm,  take  Fort  Oswcgo. 

1757.  Loudoun  drills  his  army  at  Halifax,  to  take  Louisburg. 
French,  under  Montcalm,  take  Fort  William  Henry. 

1758.  English,  under  Abercrombie,  repulsed  at  Ticonderoga. 

English,  under  Amherst,  take  Louisburg  and  Prince  Edward  Island. 
Washington  forces  the  French  to  evacuate  Fort  Du  Quesne. 

1759.  English,  under  Amherst,  take  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point. 
English,  under  Sir  William  Johnson,  take  Fort  Niagara. 
Wolfe  takes  Quebec,  dying  in  the  arms  of  victory. 

1760.  French  fail  in  an  attempt  to  recapture  Quebec. 
Montreal  and  all  Canada  surrendered  to  the  English. 

1762.  English  take  the  French  islands  in  the  West  Indies. 

1763.  Treaty  of  Paris  ends  the  French  and  Indian  War.   England  gains „ 


1775]  BEGINNING   OF   THE   REVOLUTION.  139 

CHAPTER    XVIII. 

BEGINNING   OF   THE  REVOLUTION. 

Lexington  and  Concord. — In  the  War  of  the  Revolution, 
the  first  blood  was  shed  at  Lexington.  This  town  was  ten 
miles  north-west  of  Boston,  on  the  road  to  Concord,  where 
the  patriots  had  collected  cannon  and  stores.  To  destroy 
these,  as  well  as  to  capture  Samuel  Adams  and  Hancock, 
who  were  regarded  as  the  arch-rebels,  Gage  secretly  made 
ready  a  detachment  of  800  men  ;  and  an  hour  before  mid 
night,  April  18,  1775,  they  crossed  to  Lechmere's  Point  (see 
Map,  p.  148)  and  commenced  their  march. 

But  Boston's  Sons  of  Liberty  had  hung  a  lantern  in  the 
steeple  of  the  North  Church — the  preconcerted  signal — to 
inform  their  friends  in  Charlestown  that  the  soldiers  were 
astir.  Bells  sounded  the  alarm,  and  messengers  galloped 
through  the  country  to  arouse  the  minute-men,  pledged  to 
assemble  at  a  moment's  notice  with  firelock,  powder-horn, 
and  bullet-pouch.  When  the  British  reached  Lexington  at 
daybreak  (April  19th),  they  found  about  sixty  provincials 
drawn  up  on  the  common. 

Disregarding  an  order  to  lay  down  their  arms,  the  min 
ute-men  received  the  fire  of  the  British,  returned  a  few  shots, 
and  then  dispersed,  eight  men  having  been  killed  and  more 
wounded.  The  regulars  pushed  on  to  Concord,  took  posses 
sion  of  the  village,  and  destroyed  such  stores  as  they  could 
find,  the  greater  part  having  been  already  removed  by  the 
patriots.  The  American  militia,  who  on  the  approach  of  the 
enemy  had  fallen  back,  wrought  up  beyond  endurance  on 
beholding  the  flames  of  their  burning  property,  advanced  to 
a  bridge  leading  to  the  town.  A  British  guard  posted  there 
saluted  them  with  a  volley,  but  broke  and  fled  when  the 
Americans  returned  their  fire.  "  Now,"  said  one  of  the  min- 


140  BEGINNING   OF    THE   REVOLUTION.  [l775 

ute-men  to  his  comrades,  "  the  war  has  begun,  and  no  one 
knows  when  it  will  end." 

The  Retreat. — His  work  finished,  the  British  leader,  not 
liking  the  signs  around  him,  gave  the  signal  for  retreat.  It 
was  a  retreat  traced  in  blood.  The  yeomen  of  the  neighbor 
ing  towns  were  pouring  in  by  twos  and  threes  ;  it  seemed  to 
the  enemy  "  as  if  they  rained  down  from  the  clouds."  Tak 
ing  post  behind  trees  and  walls,  on  both  sides  of  the  road 
they  knew  the  British  must  follow,  under  no  military  orders 
but  acting  each  for  himself,  they  poured  in  a  destructive  fire 
on  the  regulars,  driving  them  like  sheep  all  the  way  to  Lex 
ington.  Here,  their  ranks  thinned,  their  ammunition  almost 
exhausted,  themselves  worn  out,  they  were  saved  from  sur 
render  only  by  meeting  a  re-enforcement  from  Boston  under 
Lord  Percy.  Still  was  the  pursuit  kept  up  with  a  galling 
fire  from  the  American  sharp-shooters,  till  the  red-coats, 
ready  to  drop,  found  safety  at  Charlestown  under  the  guns 
of  their  shipping. 

The  British  major,  at  a  tavern  in  Concord,  had  boastfully 
remarked,  as  he  stirred  a  glass  of  brandy  with  his  finger,  "  I 
mean  to  stir  the  Yankee  blood  before  night,  as  I  stir  this." 
He  had  indeed  stirred  it  to  its  depths.  Connecticut  and 
Rhode  Island  promptly  sent  aid  to  their  sister-colony.  The 
men  of  New  Hampshire,  under  the  veteran  Stark,  hastened 
across  the  Merrirnac.  Putnam,  true  as  steel,  left  the  stone 
wall  that  he  was  building,  and  without  waiting  to  change 
his  check  shirt  spurred  his  horse  to  the  camp  at  Cambridge. 
Within  a  week,  Gage  found  himself  closely  beleaguered  in 
Boston. 

First  Declaration  of  Independence.  —  South  as  well  as 
North  was  fired  by  the  tidings  that  Massachusetts  had 
measured  swords  with  England,  and  had  not  come  off  second 
best.  At  Charlotte,  Mecklenburg  County,  N.  C.,  representa 
tives  of  the  people  went  so  far  as  formally  to  renounce  their 
allegiance  to  the  crown,  and  make  provision  for  their  own 


1775]  CAPTURE   OF   TICONDEROGA.  141 

government  (May  31,  1775).  This  was  the  first  declaration 
of  independence,  for  the  men  of  the  North  were  simply 
fighting  for  their  rights  as  subjects  of  Great  Britain. 

In  July,  the  demonstrations  in  North  Carolina  were  such 
that  the  governor  deemed  it  prudent  to  take  refuge  on  a 
man-of-war ;  an  example  which  the  governor  of  South  Caro 
lina  and  the  garrison  of  Charleston  followed  two  months 
later.  Governor  Duiimore,  of  Virginia,  had  before  this 
seized  the  powder  in  the  magazine  at  Williamsburg  ;  where 
upon  the  exasperated  people,  under  the  leadership  of  Patrick 
Henry,  compelled  him  to  pay  for  it,  and  shortly  afterward 
drove  him  too  on  board  of  an  armed  vessel. 

Capture  of  Ticonderoga.  —  Early  in  the  spring,  the  au 
thorities  of  Connecticut  had  resolved  to  strike  a  blow  on 
their  own  account.  Knowing  how  useful  the  artillery  and 
stores  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point  (see  Map,  p.  116) 
would  be  to  the  provincial  army,  they  furnished  means  to  fit 
out  an  expedition  against  these  places,  giving  its  command 
to  Ethan  Allen.  Allen  had  emigrated  from  Connecticut  to 
what  is  now  southern  Vermont,  and  had  there  become  a 
leader  of  "the  Green  Mountain  Boys."  This  was  an  organ 
ization  of  settlers,  who,  having  received  grants  of  their  lands 
from  the  governor  of  New  Hampshire,  had  refused  to  pay 
for  them  a  second  time  to  New  York  officials,  and  had  re 
sisted  the  attempts  of  New  York  to  extend  her  jurisdiction 
over  them. 

Eighty-three  of  these  hardy  pioneers  landed  under  the 
walls  of  Ticonderoga,  at  daybreak  on  the  10th  of  May,  1775. 
Surprising  the  sentinel,  they  entered  the  works  at  his  heels; 
and  when  the  commander  appeared  in  his  night-clothes  at 
the  door  of  his  room,  to  see  what  the  matter  was,  Allen  with 
uplifted  sword  demanded  the  surrender  of  the  place  "  in  the 
name  of  the  great  Jehovah  and  the  Continental  Congress." 
Resistance  was  useless  ;  in  a  moment  this  fortress,  which 
had  seemed  almost  impregnable,  was  in  the  hands  of  the 


142  SECOND   CONTINENTAL   CONGRESS.  [lTT5 

Americans.  Two  days  afterward,  Crown  Point  was  taken. 
Benedict  Arnold,  then  a  true  and  dashing  soldier  though 
afterward  the  traitor  of  the  Revolution,  was  equally  success 
ful  at  Skenesborough,  and,  embarking  a  small  force  on  a 
captured  vessel,  surprised  also  a  post  at  the  foot  of  the  lake. 
Many  of  the  two  hundred  cannon  captured  in  these  success 
ful  expeditions  afterward  thundered  on  the  British  from  the 
heights  around  Boston. 

Second  Continental  Congress. — The  Continental  Congress, 
in  whose  name  Ethan  Allen  had  summoned  Ticonderoga  to 
surrender,  commenced  its  second  session  at  Philadelphia  on 
the  very  day  that  post  was  taken,  and  with  short  intervals 
of  adjournment  continued  sitting  throughout  the  Revolution. 
We  shall  find  this  body  taking  the  whole  responsibility  of 
the  war,  providing  ways  and  means,  raising  armies,  appoint 
ing  officers,  and  negotiating  with  foreign  powers. 

The  second  Congress  numbered  Washington  and  Frank 
lin,  the  Adamses,  Henry,  Lee,  and  Jefferson,  among  its  mem 
bers  ;  John  Hancock  was  made  president.  Some  hope  of 
reconciliation  with  the  mother-country  was  still  entertained, 
and  a  final  petition  to  the  crown  was  drawn  up  ;  at  the  same 
time  vigorous  preparations  were  made  for  war.  Three  mill 
ions  of  dollars  were  issued  in  bills  of  credit.  The  forces  in 
front  of  Boston  were  adopted  as  the  Continental  army,  and 
on  the  15th  of  June  Washington  was  unanimously  elected 
its  commander-in-chief.  He  accepted  the  command,  while 
expressing  doubt  as  to  his  fitness  for  it,  but  declined  the 
pay  which  Congress  had  attached  to  the  position. 

Gage  re-enforced.  —  Before  summer  Gage's  army  was 
swelled  to  more  than  10,000  men,  by  the  arrival  of  re-en 
forcements  under  Generals  Howe,  Clinton,  and  Burgoyne. 
"  What !  "  exclaimed  the  last-named  officer,  as  he  sailed  up 
the  harbor  and  saw  the  "  rebel "  encampment  ;  "  ten  thou 
sand  peasants  keep  five  thousand  king's  troops  shut  up  ! 
Let  us  get  in,  and  we'll  soon  find  elbow-room." 


1775] 


FORTIFYING   BREED  S    HILL. 


143 


Feeling  himself  strong  enough  to  proceed  to  extremities, 
Gage  now  proclaimed  martial  law,  but  offered  pardon  to  such 
as  would  lay  down  their  arms,  except  Samuel  Adams  and 
John  Hancock,  whom  he  threatened  with  condign  punish 
ment.  His  proclamation  had  little  effect,  and  he  was  about 
extending  his  line  by  fortifying  the  heights  of  Charlestown, 
when  the  patriots,  learning  his  intention,  anticipated  him. 

Bunker  Hill. — On  the  evening  of  June  16th,  a  thousand 
Americans  under  Colonel  Prescott  silently  marched  from 
Cambridge,  over  Charlestown  Neck,  with  instructions  to 
throw  up  intrenchments  on  Bunker  Hill.*  Breed's  Hill, 


THROWING  UP  INTRENCIIMENTS  ON  BREED'S  HILL. 

however,  was  selected  in  stead,  either  by  mistake  or  because 
it  was  better  suited  for  their  purpose.  They  got  to  work 
with  their  picks  and  spades  by  midnight,  and  at  dawn  the 
British  were  thunderstruck  to  see  the  hill,  which  commanded 
Charlestown  and  Boston,  crowned  with  earth-works  six  feet 
*  For  the  localities  mentioned  in  this  connection,  see  Map,  p.  148. 


144:  BATTLE   OF   BUNKER   HILL.  [l775 

high.  The  Americans  coolly  continued  their  labors,  while 
the  British  guns  rained  grape-shot  on  them  from  Copp's  Hill 
and  the  shipping  in  the  harbor.  Gage  saw  that  these  works 
must  be  taken,  if  he  would  hold  the  city.  He  wondered  if 
the  rebel  leader,  whom  he  discerned  with  his  glass,  would 
wait  to  receive  his  veterans  ;  before  night  he  found  out. 

The  Battle. — About  one  o'clock  on  that  intolerably  hot 
17th  of  June,  3,000  British  troops  under  Howe  arid  Pig'ot 
landed  at  Morton's  Point,  to  storm  the  American  works. 
The  provincials  had  been  but  sparingly  re-enforced.  Jaded 
by  the  toil  of  the  preceding  night,  hungry  and  thirsty,  ill 
supplied  with  ammunition  (there  were  said  to  be  less  than 
fourteen  barrels  of  powder  in  the  whole  American  army  on 
the  day  of  the  battle),  they  yet  gallantly  threw  the  flag  of 
New  England  to  the  breeze,  as  they  beheld  the  enemy  pre 
paring  for  the  assault.  Twice  did  the  British  charge  up  the 
hill  with  determined  bravery.  Twice  did  the  Americans, 
from  behind  their  works,  drive  them  back  with  deadly  vol 
leys,  aiming  low  and  waiting  till  they  could  see  the  whites 
of  the  enemy's  eyes,  according  to  the  orders  of  Prescott  and 
Putnam. 

Meanwhile  Charlestown  had  been  fired  by  shells  from 
Copp's  Hill,  and  Clinton  had  brought  over  a  thousand  fresh 
troops  to  join  in  the  attack.  A  third  attempt  was  made  ;  it 
succeeded,  for  the  ammunition  of  the  patriots  gave  out. 
The  British  forced  their  way  over  the  works  ;  and,  though 
the  Americans  still  offered  what  resistance  they  could  with 
stones  and  clubbed  muskets,  the  bayonet  forced  them  to 
give  way.  The  retreat  was  covered  by  Stark  and  his  New 
Hampshire  regiments,  who  had  gallantly  maintained  their 
position  behind  a  rampart  of  rails  filled  in  with  new-mown 
hay.  Stubbornly  disputing  every  inch  of  the  way,  the  pro 
vincials  recrossed  Charlestown  Neck,  and  intrenched  them 
selves  on  Prospect  Hill,  whither  the  enemy  showed  no  dis 
position  to  pursue  them. 


1775]  INVASION    OF   CANADA.  145 

The  British  lost  1,054  men,  killed  and  wounded,  at  Bun 
ker  Hill ;  the  Americans  452 — but  among  them  was  the  ac 
complished  Dr.  Joseph  Warren,  president  of  the  Provincial 
Congress  of  Massachusetts,  who  served  in  the  battle  as  a 
volunteer,  and  whom  Howe  estimated  as  worth  five  hundred 
common  rebels.  Though  the  British  were  the  victors,  it  was 
a  glorious  day  for  America.  So  thought  the  thousands  who 
from  the  surrounding  hill-tops,  and  the  roofs  and  steeples  of 
Boston,  witnessed  the  unflinching  valor  of  their  countrymen. 

Invasion  of  Canada, — The  year  1775  closed  with  an  in 
vasion  of  Canada,  undertaken  by  Congress  with  the  view  of 
securing  the  war-materials  stored  at  Quebec,  and  affording 
the  people  an  opportunity  of  taking  part  in  the  Revolution. 
Gen.  Richard  Montgomery  was  to  move  by  way  of  Lake 
Champlain  and  Montreal ;  while  Arnold  was  to  advance  di 
rectly  on  Quebec,  through  the  wildernesses  of  Maine  and 
Canada,  with  an  auxiliary  force,  in  whose  ranks  were  Mor 
gan  and  Aaron  Burr,  afterward  noted  in  their  country's  his 
tory. 

Arnold  and  his  men  were  the  first  to  arrive,  after  endur 
ing  trials  that  would  have  turned  back  a  less  determined 
party  ;  for  a  time,  after  dog-flesh  and  their  moose-skin  moc 
casins  gave  out,  they  had  to  subsist  on  roots.  Montgomery 
took  several  French  posts,  and  finally  Montreal  (November 
13th),  but  lost  some  of  his  followers  by  the  expiration  of 
their  term  of  enlistment.  When  the  two  bodies  united  near 
Quebec,  they  together  mustered  but  nine  hundred  men, 
poorly  armed  and  ill  prepared  for  a  Canadian  winter.  This 
was  a  petty  force  with  which  to  assail  a  fortress  like  Que 
bec,  but  Montgomery  faltered  not.  He  had  seen  Wolfe  win 
laurels  there,  and  would  himself  earn  equal  glory. 

Three  weeks'  cannonading  leaving  no  impression  on  the 

massive  walls,  an  assault  was  made  on  the  last  day  of  the 

year.     Three  feet  of  frozen  snow  lay  on  the  ground,  and  the 

air  was  filled  with  blinding  flakes,  when  at  dawn  Montgomery 

7 


146  ATTACK   ON   QUEBEC.  [l775 

made  a  desperate  attempt  to  enter  the  city  on  the  St.  Law 
rence  side.  The  Canadians  were  prepared,  and,  sweeping 
the  narrow  pass  with  cannon  and  musketry,  killed  the  Amer 
ican  general  and  drove  back  his  little  force.  Arnold,  mean 
time,  storming  the  other  side  of  the  town,  was  wounded  at 
the  head  of  his  division.  Morgan,  assuming  command,  car 
ried  the  first  barrier,  but  then,  unable  either  to  penetrate 
farther  or  to  extricate  his  men  from  overwhelming  numbers 
of  the  foe,  was  obliged  to  surrender. 

The  remnants  of  the  two  divisions  effected  a  junction, 
and  for  a  time  maintained  an  imperfect  blockade  of  the  city. 
But  spring  brought  succor  to  the  British.  The  Americans 
had  to  raise  the  siege,  fell  back  on  Montreal,  were  driven 
thence  by  a  superior  force,  and  so  from  post  to  post  till  they 
had  crossed  the  Canada  line.  Montgomery's  fall  was 
mourned  as  a  national  loss.  Happy  had  it  been  for  Arnold, 
if  he  had  shared  the  fate  of  that  true-hearted  chief. 


GENERAL     REVIEW. 

When,  and  under  what  circumstances,  did  the  English  add  New  York 
to  their  colonial  possessions?  When  and  how  did  they  obtain  Acadia? 
Newfoundland  ?  New  Brunswick  ?  Cape  Breton  and  Prince  Edward  Island  ? 
The  Ohio  Valley ?  Canada?  Florida? 

What  European  powers  had  possessions  in  North  America  at  the  close 
of  1763,  and  what  was  the  boundary  between  them  ? 

Tell  all  you  have  learned  in  the  preceding  pages  about  WILLIAM  PITT  ; 
MONTCALM  ;  WASHINGTON  ;  FRANKLIN  ;  SAMUEL  ADAMS  ;  PATRICK  HENRY. 

State,  in  order,  the  causes  that  led  to  the  American  Revolution,  and  the 
events  that  immediately  preceded  it. 

Map,  p.  148. — How  were  Bunker  and  Breed's  Hill  situated  ?  When 
was  Charlestown  founded  ?  Where  was  Lechmere's  Point  ?  Prospect  Hill  ? 
Copp's  Hill  ?  Charlestown  Neck  ?  Boston  Neck  ?  What  was  the  Indian 
name  of  the  peninsula  on  which  Boston  stands  ?  What  name  did  the  Eng 
lish  give  it  ?  The  shape  of  the  peninsula  has  since  been  changed  by  filling 
in,  and  the  area  of  the  city  has  been  greatly  enlarged  by  the  absorption  of 
Charlestown,  Noddle's  Island  (East  Boston),  Dorchester,  Roxbury,  West 
Roxbury,  and  Brighton. 


1775]  WASHINGTON   GETTING   KEADY.  147 

CHAPTER    XIX. 

REVOLUTIONARY    WAR:  EVENTS  OF   1776. 

Getting  ready. — As  soon  as  possible  after  his  appoint 
ment  to  the  chief  command,  Washington  set  out  for  Cam 
bridge.  He  arrived  there  July  2,  1775,  and  immediately 
entered  upon  the  difficult  task  of  making  an  efficient  army 
out  of  the  14,000  undisciplined  and  poorly-equipped  men 
whom  he  found  in  the  American  camp.  Obstacles  met  him 
at  every  step — the  want  of  experienced  officers  and  skillful 
engineers,  want  of  money,  want  of  stores.  At  one  time  he 
found,  to  his  consternation,  that  the  entire  supply  of  powder 
was  but  half  a  pound  to  each  man.  To  crown  all,  the  sol 
diers,  exposed  to  privations  and  needed  at  home,  were  with 
difficulty  induced  to  remain  when  their  time  expired. 

But  Washington  had  faith  and  patience.  During  the 
long  fall  and  winter,  while  British  cruisers  were  spreading 
terror  in  Narragansett  Bay, — and  British  guns  were  re 
ducing  Falmouth  (now  Portland,  Maine)  to  ruins, — and 
Dunmore  was  wreaking  his  vengeance  on  Norfolk,  Virginia, 
— and  Tryon,  who  had  become  governor  of  New  York,  was 
doing  his  best  to  buy  over  the  wavering  citizens, — while 
even  the  friends  of  freedom  were  losing  patience  and  clam 
oring  for  something  to  be  done, — Washington  was  all  the 
time  diligently  strengthening  his  works,  collecting  military 
stores,  drilling  his  army,  and  preparing  it,  when  it  did  strike, 
to  strike  telling  blows. 

Evacuation  of  Boston. — The  American  lines,  extending 
about  nine  miles  from  Dorchester,  girding  the  shore  as  far 
as  the  Mystic  River,  effectually  penned  the  British  in  Bos 
ton,  where  they  were  reduced  to  great  straits  for  fuel  and 
provisions.  Charlestown  Heights  had  been  occupied  ever 
since  the  battle  by  the  royal  army ;  but  on  the  south  the 


148 


THE   REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 


[177-0 


city  was  commanded  as  well  by  the  heights  of  Dorchester, 
which  the  British  had  neglected  to  seize.  These  Washing 
ton,  with  the  view  of  bringing  on  an  action  or  dislodging 
the  enemy  from  Boston,  at  length  determined  to  occupy. 

On  the  night  of  March  4,  1776,  a  similar  movement  was 
made  to  that  which  had  succeeded  so  well  on  Breed's  Hill, 


BOSTON  AND  VICINITY  IN  1776. 


The  British  awoke  the  following  morning,  to  behold  intrench- 
ments  raised  as  if  by  magic,  and  cannon  frowning  on  them 
and  their  ships  from  Dorchester  Heights.  Gen.  Howe,  who 
in  October  had  succeeded  the  inefficient  Gage  in  the  chief 
command  of  the  royal  army,  immediately  decided  to  attack 
these  fortifications  ;  but  a  violent  storm  set  in?  and  by  the 


1776]  BRITISH    ATTACK   ON   CHARLESTON.  149 

time  it  ceased  they  had  been  so  strengthened  that  he  aban 
doned  the  idea,  and  thought  only  of  saving  his  army  and 
fleet  by  evacuating  the  city.  He  was  allowed  to  do  so,  on 
condition  of  not  setting  it  on  fire,  and  Washington  entered 
it  in  triumph,  March  17th,  to  the  great  joy  of  its  suffering1 
inhabitants.  Fifteen  hundred  loyalists  had  been  taken  off 
in  the  British  ships. 

British.  Attack  on  Charleston. — An  attack  on  the  south 
ern  colonies  formed  part  of  the  British  plans  for  their  cam 
paign  of  1776.  In  May,  a  squadron  direct  from  England, 
bearing  2,500  fresh  troops,  effected  a  junction  off  the  coast 
of  Carolina  with  a  detachment  from  the  north  under  Gen. 
Clinton,  and  the  combined  armaments  soon  appeared  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Charleston.  Here  the  vigorous  efforts  of 
Rutledge,  Moultrie  (mole'tre),  and  Gadsden,  had  made  ready 
for  their  reception.  A  fort  of  palmetto-wood  had  been  has 
tily  thrown  up  on  Sullivan's  Island  (see  Map,  p.  81),  at  a 
point  commanding  the  entrance  to  the  harbor,  and  works  at 
the  other  end  defended  the  approaches  to  it  by  land. 

The  attack  was  made  on  the  28th  of  June,  the  British 
fleet  under  Admiral  Parker  opening  fire  on  the  palmetto 
fort,  while  a  land-force  under  Clinton  endeavored  to  carry 
the  works  in  the  rear.  Both  attacks  failed,  though  hotly 
maintained  for  nine  hours.  The  British  balls  buried  them 
selves  in  the  spongy  wood  of  which  the  fort  was  made,  with 
out  doing  any  harm,  and  Clinton's  men  were  kept  at  bay  by 
the  riflemen  of  Carolina.  On  the  other  hand,  the  patriot 
guns  inflicted  fearful  damage  on  the  British  ships.  One 
grounded  and  was  destroyed  ;  the  rest  withdrew  in  the 
night  utterly  discomfited,  and  after  refitting  found  their 
way  to  New  York.  The  fort  was  under  the  immediate  com 
mand  of  Colonel  Moultrie,  and  was  afterward  called  by  his 
name  in  honor  of  his  heroic  defence. 

Before  the  battle,  Gen.  Lee,  who  had  been  dispatched 
by  Washington  to  the  aid  of  the  Carolinians,  had  expressed 


150  THE   REVOLUTIONARY   WAR.  [l776 

the  opinion  that  it  would  take  the  British  guns  but  ten  min 
utes  to  demolish  the  fort.  "  In  that  case,"  replied  Moultrie, 
"  we  will  lie  behind  the  ruins,  and  still  prevent  the  enemy 
from  landing."  Sergeant  Jasper  was  one  of  the  heroes  of 
the  defence.  A  ball  having  severed  the  flagstaff,  so  that 
the  flag  fell  outside  upon  the  beach,  Jasper  leaped  down 
amid  the  hurtling  missiles  from  the  fleet,  picked  up  the  flag, 
attached  it  to  a  sponge-staff,  and  amid  the  cheers  of  his  com 
panions  restored  it  to  its  place. — This  repulse  changed  the 
British  plans,  and  the  Carolinas  were  for  a  time  left  unmo 
lested. 

The  Hessians. — King  George  III.  had  returned  no  answer 
to  the  respectful  petition  of  the  second  Continental  Con 
gress.  Parliament  had  shown  its  feeling  by  forbidding  trade 
with  the  rebel  colonies,  and  authorizing  the  seizure  of  all  ves 
sels  sent  thither  for  traffic, — by  largely  increasing  the  forces 
in  America,  both  land  and  naval,  for  crushing  the  insurrec 
tion, — and,  as  enlistments  in  England  were  slow,  by  authoriz 
ing  the  employment  of  17,500  German  troops,  at  $36  a  head, 
to  be  paid  to  their  respective  princes.  These  mercenaries, 
coming  mainly  from  Hesse  (hess)  Cassel,  were  known  in 
America  as  Hessians  ;  their  brutality  throughout  the  war 
caused  them  to  be  looked  upon  with  horror  by  the  patriots, 
and  even  with  disgust  by  the  English  themselves. 

Declaration  of  Independence. — From  all  this  it  was  clear 
that  nothing  was  to  be  hoped  for  from  the  mother-country  ; 
Congress,  therefore,  began  to  think  of  renouncing  allegiance 
to  the  crown.  The  people  of  Charlotte,  N.  C.,  had  set  the 
example  the  preceding  year.  Thomas  Paine,  in  his  widely- 
circulated  pamphlet  "Common  Sense,"  had  prepared  the 
public  mind  for  such  action  ;  the  Virginia  Convention  and 
other  bodies  had  recommended  it.  So,  in  June,  Richard 
Henry  Lee  introduced  a  resolution:  "That  these  united 
colonies  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  free  and  independent 
states  ;  and  that  their  political  connection  with  Great  Brit- 


1776] 


DECLAEATION    OF   INDEPENDENCE. 


151 


ain  is,  and  ought  to  be,  dissolved."  A  committee  of  five 
was  thereupon  appointed  to  draft  a  formal  Declaration  of 
Independence. 

This  document  was  written  by  Thomas  Jefferson  as  chair 
man,  and  received  a  few  verbal  alterations  from  John  Adams 


JEFFERSON  BEADING  THE  DECLARATION  IN  COMMITTEE. 

and  Franklin,  of  the  committee.  It  was  presented  to  Con 
gress  July  1st,  and  after  being  carefully  considered  and 
amended  was  passed  on  the  4th  of  July — ever  since  observed 
as  the  birthday  of  American  freedom.  The  bell  of  the  old 
state-house,  in  which  Congress  was  assembled,  at  once  rang 
out  the  glad  tidings.  The  people,  south  and  north,  hailed 
the  news  with  delight,  kindling  bonfires,  illuminating  their 
houses,  and  receiving  the  Declaration,  as  read  by  their  ora 
tors,  with  heart-stirring  acclamations.  A  statue  of  the  king 


152  THE   REVOLUTION  ART   WAR.  [l776 

in  New  York  was  dragged  from  its  pedestal  and  cast  into 
bullets, — some  of  which  did  good  service  during  the  savage 
Tryon's  raids  in  Connecticut  (1777). 

Howe's  Offers  of  Peace. — After  the  evacuation  of  Bos 
ton,  Gen.  Howe  took  his  army  first  to  Halifax,  and  thence 
to  the  harbor  of  New  York.  Here  he  was  soon  joined  by 
his  brother,  Admiral  Howe,  with  re-enforcements  from  Eng 
land,  including  eight  thousand  of  the  odious  Hessians, — and 
also  by  the  British  force  repulsed  from  Charleston.  The 
Howes  were  authorized  to  treat  with  the  "  rebels  "  for  peace, 
and  tried  to  communicate  with  George  Washington,  Esq.,  for 
that  purpose.  But  Washington  would  receive  no  letter  that 
did  not  recognize  his  position  as  General /  and  so  nothing 
came  of  their  proposal,  which  after  all  was  only  an  offer  of 
pardon  in  case  of  submission. 

Battle  of  Long  Island. — Failing  in  this  attempt,  Howe 
landed  15,000  men  on  the  south-western  extremity  of  Long 
Island  (August  22d,  25th)  with  the  view  of  crushing  the 
American  army  of  9,000  men  stationed  near  Brooklyn,  car 
rying  the  defences  there,  and  then  falling  upon  New  York. 
By  direction  of  Congress,  Washington  had  done  his  best  to 
make  this  city  defensible  ;  but  it  was  a  long  line  to  hold 
with  only  17,000  men,  scant  and  inferior  artillery,  and  hard 
ly  muskets  enough  to  go  around.  Gen.  Greene,  who  had  been 
in  command  on  Long  Island,  was  unfortunately  prostrated 
with  fever  just  before  the  battle,  and  Putnam  was  sent  over 
to  assume  command. 

Putnam  was  ignorant  of  the  ground.  This  may  have 
been  the  reason  why,  on  the  day  of  the  battle  of  Long  Isl 
and  (August  27th),  the  Jamaica  Pass  was  left  unguarded. 
Clinton  was  thus  enabled  to  gain  the  rear  of  the  Americans, 
and  to  cut  off  almost  the  entire  division  under  General  Sul 
livan.  Stirling,  nearer  the  bay,  by  the  sacrifice  of  his  young 
Marylanders,  held  the  flanking  force  of  the  enemy  under 
Cornwallis  in  check  till  part  of  his  division  was  safe,  though 


1776]  BATTLE   OF   LONG   ISLAND.  153 

many  were  drowned  or  taken  in  their  flight  across  Gowan'us 
Creek. 

This  defeat  cost  the  Americans  nearly  2,000  men,  while 
the  British  loss  was  less  than  400.  Among  those  most 
mourned  by  the  patriots  was  Gen.  Woodhull.  Taken  pris 
oner  near  Jamaica,  the  day  after  the  battle,  he  was  ordered 
by  a  British  officer  to  cry  "  God  save  the  king  !  "  "  God 
save  us  all  ! "  said  Woodhull ;  whereupon  his  enraged  cap 
tor  dealt  him  a  blow  with  a  broadsword  which  in  three  weeks 
caused  his  death.  His  fate,  however,  was  enviable,  com 
pared  with  that  of  some  who  were  captured,  and  who  were 
soon  perishing  by  inches  in  one  of  the  foul  prison-ships  kept 
by  the  British  throughout  the  war  near  the  Brooklyn  shore. 

Remembering  Bunker  Hill,  Howe  preferred  throwing  up 
a  redoubt  and  employing  his  artillery  on  the  American  works 
at  Brooklyn  to  risking  the  lives  of  his  men  in  an  assault. 
Washington,  who  had  crossed  from  New  York  only  to  be 
hold  his  brave  men  slaughtered  without  the  power  to  help 
them,  learned  on  the  29th  that  the  British  fleet  was  prepar 
ing  to  ascend  the  East  River  and  intercept  him  ;  an  imme 
diate  retreat  was  imperative.  He  accomplished  it  in  a  mas 
terly  manner  that  same  night,  under  cover  of  the  darkness 
and  a  thick  fog.  The  last  boat  was  just  out  of  gunshot, 
when  about  dawn  a  body  of  the  enemy's  horse,  dispatched 
as  soon  as  the  movement  was  discovered,  galloped  down  to 
the  river.  A  tory's  wife  living  near  the  ferry  had  found  out 
what  was  going  on  early  in  the  night,  and  sent  word  to  the 
British  leader  by  a  negro  ;  but  providentially  he  fell  in  with 
Hessians,  who  could  not  understand  him,  and  the  American 
army  was  saved. 

New  York  abandoned. — Washington  now  had  his  men 
safe  in  New  York,  but  could  not  long  remain  there,  for  the 
enemy  threatened  the  city,  and  with  an  army  disheartened 
by  the  recent  defeat  he  could  offer  no  effectual  resistance. 
Overtures  again  made  by  Howe — this  time  to  Congress — > 


154  THE   REVOLUTIONARY   WAR.  [l776 

were  again  unsuccessful ;  and  on  the  15th  of  September  the 
British  and  Hessians  crossed  from  Long  to  Manhattan  Island, 
three  miles  above  what  was  then  the  city. 

Most  of  the  Americans  had  already  been  withdrawn,  but 
the  rear-guard  under  Putnam  was  still  in  the  city,  and  owed 
its  escape  to  the  device  of  a  lady,  who  detained  the  British 
generals  at  her  house  two  hours  with  conversation  and  re 
freshments,  while  her  countrymen  were  making  their  toil 
some  way  to  the  north.  New  York,  thus  taken  by  the  Brit 
ish,  remained  in  their  possession  till  the  end  of  the  war. 

Battle  of  White  Plains. — The  next  day  a  skirmish  took 
place  near  Harlem,  with  advantage  to  the  Continentals. 
Then  followed  an  attempt  on  the  part  of  Howe  to  outflank 
the  Americans,  which  obliged  Washington  to  extend  his  line 
northward  to  White  Plains  (see  Map,  p.  183 ).  Near  this 
place  a  battle  was  fought,  October  28th,  between  portions 
of  the  two  armies,  and  the  Americans  were  obliged  to  fall 
back.  The  main  body,  however,  was  so  strongly  posted  that 
Howe  put  off  any  further  attack  till  re-enforcements  should 
arrive  from  New  York  ;  and  meanwhile  Washington  retired 
to  high  grounds  in  the  direction  of  the  Croton  River.  Howe 
still  making  no  demonstration,  Washington  feared  that  a 
descent  on  Philadelphia  was  intended.  Accordingly,  leav 
ing  4,000  men  under  Gen.  Lee,  he  moved  the  rest  of  his 
army  nearer  to  the  Hudson,  and  ultimately  across  that  river 
to  Fort  Lee. 

Capture  of  Fort  Washington. — Howe  now  threw  himself 
on  Fort  Washington,  which,  contrary  to  the  advice  of  the 
commander-in-chief,  Congress  had  decided  to  defend.  The 
works  here  had  been  planned  by  Alexander  Hamilton,  after 
ward  a  distinguished  statesman,  at  this  time  a  youth  of 
twenty  ;  the  skill  displayed  in  their  construction  recom 
mended  the  young  engineer  to  Washington,  whose  aid  and 
secretary  he  presently  became.  But  Fort  Washington  was 
obliged  to  surrender  to  overwhelming  numbers  (November 


1776] 


RETREAT   ACROSS    NEW   JERSEY. 


155 


16th),  with  its  garrison  of  nearly  3,000  men,  the  British 
losing  before  its  walls  about  one-third  of  that  number. 
Washington  is  said  to  have  wept,  as  he  saw  through  his 
glass  some  of  the  defenders  of  the  fort  bayoneted  by  the 
Hessians  while  begging  for  quarter. 

Eetreat  across  New  Jersey. — Fort  Lee  could  be  held  no 
longer  ;  an  immediate  retreat  was  ordered.  It  was  none  too 
soon,  for  Cornwallis  had  ,  __  A 

crossed  the  Hudson  higher 
up  and  was  sweeping  down 
like  an  avalanche.  Then 
commenced  that  melan 
choly  retreat  across  New 
Jersey — through  Hacken- 
sack,  Newark,  New  Bruns 
wick,  Princeton,  and  Tren 
ton, — the  frozen  ground 
marked  in  places  with 
blood  from  the  unprotect 
ed  feet  of  the  fugitives. 
The  pursuit  was  sharply  pushed,  the  music  of  the  British 
entering  a  town  being  often  heard  by  the  Americans  as  they 
left  it. 

Gladly  would  Washington  have  made  a  stand,  but  it  was 
impracticable.  His  army  since  the  late  reverses  had  melted 
rapidly  away,  till  at  the  end  of  November  but  three  thousand 
were  left,  dispirited,  ill-fed,  ill-clad.  How  could  they  face 
twice  their  number  of  well-supplied  veterans,  flushed  with 
victory  ?  Lee  had  been  sent  for  with  his  division,  but  paid 
little  attention  to  the  summons,  and  the  militia  were  back 
ward  in  coming  to  the  support  of  a  cause  so  desperate. 
Washington  was  greatly  relieved  when,  having  secured  the 
boats  for  many  miles,  he  succeeded  in  placing  the  Delaware 
between  himself  and  his  pursuers.  Cornwallis  here  gave  up 
the  chase,  waiting  till  the  river  should  be  bridged  with  ice, 


BATTLE-FIELDS  IN  XEW  JERSEY. 


156  THE   KEVOLTJTIONAKY   WAR.  [l776 

and  quartering  the  different  divisions  of  his  army  at  Trenton, 
Princeton,  and  other  points  within  supporting  distance. 

Dark  Hours. — At  this  juncture,  everything  looked  dark. 
The  British  had  appeared  in  force  on  Lake  Champlain,  and 
despite  the  gallantry  of  Arnold,  who  commanded  a  hastily- 
prepared  flotilla,  had  destroyed  most  of  the  American  vessels, 
taken  Crown  Point,  and  only  waited  for  a  more  favorable 
season  to  besiege  Ticonderoga.  A  fleet  from  New  York 
bearing  Gen.  Clinton  and  four  brigades  had  made  a  success 
ful  descent  on  Newport,  then  the  second  town  in  New  Eng 
land,  and  was  blockading  Continental  cruisers  at  Providence, 
and  threatening  the  adjacent  country.  Congress,  fearing 
for  the  safety  of  Philadelphia,  had  left  that  city  for  Balti 
more  (December  12th),  after  taking  measures  to  provide  a 
permanent  army  at  Washington's  urgent  request  ;  they 
shortly  afterward  showed  how  desperate  they  thought  the 
state  of  affairs  by  clothing  the  commander-in-chief  with 
almost  absolute  power.  Something  must  be  done,  or  the 
patriot  cause  would  be  ruined. 

Battle  of  Trenton. — So  Washington  felt ;  and  the  arrival 
of  some  Pennsylvania  recruits  and  part  of  Lee's  division, 
swelling  his  army  to  7,000  men,  enabled  him  to  make  a  bold 
dash  at  the  enemy.  It  was  resolved  to  cross  the  Delaware 
on  Christmas  evening,  and  surprise  a  detachment  1,500 
strong,  mostly  Hessians,  stationed  at  Trenton.  Two  divi 
sions  that  were  to  cooperate  were  unable  to  get  across,  by 
reason  of  the  wind  and  ice  ;  but  Washington,  with  Sullivan, 
Greene,  Stirling,  and  Mercer,  effected  the  perilous  passage 
with  2,400  men.  The  enemy,  thinking  the  war  virtually 
over,  had  relaxed  their  vigilance  ;  one  of  the  British  generals 
had  remarked  that  he  could  keep  the  peace  in  New  Jersey 
with  a  corporal's  guard. 

The  Hessian  colonel  had  been  enjoying  Christmas,  drink 
ing  and  playing  cards  all  night.  At  daylight  a  note  was 
brought  him  from  a  tory,  informing  him  that  the  Americans 


1776]  BATTLE   OF   TRENTON.  157 

were  on  the  road.  Thrusting  it  unopened  into  his  pocket, 
he  continued  his  game — soon  to  be  called  to  a  game  of  a 
different  kind  by  the  rattle  of  musketry.  He  was  himself 
among  the  first  to  fall,  and  a  thousand  of  his  men,  offering 
little  resistance,  laid  down  their  arms.  Some  British  light- 
horse  made  good  their  escape. 

That  same  night,  Washington  took  his  prisoners  and 
spoils  across  the  Delaware  in  safety.  This  invaluable  vic> 
tory  cost  him  but  two  men  frozen  to  death,  two  men  killed, 
and  a  few  wounded.  Confidence  in  the  American  cause  was 
at  once  restored.  Many  of  the  soldiers  who  were  about 
leaving  re-enlisted  ;  others  came  forward  to  their  country's 
aid.  Thus  encouraged,  Washington  determined  again  to 
cross  into  New  Jersey.  January  1,  1777,  found  him  posted 
at  Trenton  with  about  5,000  men. 

CONTEMPORARY   EVENTS  AND   RULERS. 

1776. — DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE. — Most  of  the  states  (the 
loyalist  governors  having  been  driven  out)  under  the  rule  of  Provincial 
Congresses  or  State  Conventions,  representing  the  people.  Patrick  Henry 
governor  of  Virginia  under  the  new  regime,  John  Hancock  president  of 
the  Continental  Congress. 

John  Adams  at  the  head  of  the  War  Department.  Powder-mills,  and 
manufactories  of  arms  and  military  stores,  established.  Laws  passed  in 
some  of  the  states,  subjecting  loyalists  to  confiscation  of  property,  im 
prisonment,  and  banishment.  The  tory  element  strong  in  New  York  and 
Philadelphia.  Nearly  one-third  of  the  city  of  New  York  laid  in  ruins  by 
fire  (September  20th).  Cherokees,  influenced  by  British  agents  to  com 
mence  hostilities  against  the  back  settlements,  subdued  by  Carolinians  and 
Virginians. 

George  III.  king  of  Great  Britain ;  Lord  North  prime-minister.  Louis 
XVI.  king  of  France.  Maria  There'sa  empress  of  Austria.  Frederick  II.,  the 
Great,  king  of  Prussia.  Catharine  II.  empress  of  Russia. 

Review. — Mention  in  the  order  of  time  the  events  of  the  Revolution 
ary  War  in  1775,  favorable  to  the  Americans.  Mention  those  favorable  to 
the  British.  Sum  up  the  events  of  1776  in  which  the  Americans  had  the 
advantage.  Recount  those  in  which  the  British  had  the  advantage. 


158  THE   REVOLUTIONARY    WAK.  [l777 

CHAPTER  XX. 

REVOLUTIONARY  WAR:  EVENTS  OF  1777. 

Battle  of  Princeton. — Cornwallis,  who  was  about  sailing 
for  England  on  leave  of  absence,  was  promptly  ordered  back 
to  New  Jersey.  On  the  3d  of  January,  1777,  he  confronted 
Washington  at  Trenton  with  a  well-appointed  army.  His 
attempts  to  cross  a  creek  that  separated  him  from  the  Amer 
icans  were  successfully  resisted  till  night  ;  when  Washing 
ton,  leaving  his  camp-fires  burning,  noiselessly  withdrew  his 
forces  in  the  direction  of  Princeton  (see  Map,  p.  155),  to 
surprise  the  British  reserve  at  that  place.  Cornwallis  awoke 
on  the  3d,  to  find  the  American  camp  deserted  and  himself 
outgeneralled. 

On  nearing  Princeton  at  daybreak,  the  American  army 
encountered  two  British  regiments  on  the  march  to  re-en 
force  Cornwallis.  A  sharp  action  ensued,  which  cost  the 
precious  life  of  Gen.  Mercer,  but  resulted  in  the  discomfiture 
of  the  British.  Pushing  on  to  Princeton,  Washington 
routed  the  remaining  regiments  of  British,  making  prisoners 
of  a  number  in  the  college  buildings.  One  of  his  cannon- 
balls  passed  through  a  portrait  of  King  George  II.  hanging 
in  the  chapel,  the  frame  of  which  is  now  filled  with  a  portrait 
of  Washington  himself,  painted  by  Peale.  Cornwallis  had 
followed  closely,  but  came  up  too  late  for  the  engagement. 

After  his  victory  at  Princeton,  Washington  moved  on  to 
Morristown.  Here  he  remained  the  rest  of  the  winter,  and 
by  a  series  of  successful  movements  recovered  nearly  the 
whole  of  New  Jersey.  New  Brunswick,  however,  whither 
Cornwallis  had  marched  after  his  mortifying  failure  "to 
catch  the  fox,"  remained  in  possession  of  the  British,  whose 
Hessian  allies  excited  great  indignation  in  the  neighborhood 
by  their  wanton  violence.  The  larder  and  blankets  of  many 


1777] 


THE    STAKS   AND    STRIFES   ADOPTED. 


159 


a  thrifty  housewife,  as  well  as  the  fences  and  barns  of  the 
husbandmen,  suffered  severely  from  their  depredations.  Till 
summer,  Howe  contented  himself  with  sending  an  expedi 
tion  up  the  Hudson,  and  another  to  Danbury,  Conn.,  which 
burned  the  town  and  stores  collected  there. 

The  National  Flag.— June  14,  1777,  was  signalized  by 
the  adoption  of  the  stars  and  stripes  as  the  national  banner. 
For  the  union  of  the  British  flag  before  used,  was  substi 
tuted  a  blue  field  with  thirteen  stars, 
representing  the  original  thirteen 
states,  arranged  in  a  circle,  the  em 
blem  of  perpetuity.  A  new  star 
was  afterward  added  for  each  new 
state  admitted,  and  the  arrange 
ment  of  the  stars  was  changed. 
Paul  Jones,  a  naval  hero  of  whose 
achievements  we  shall  presently 
hear,  was  the  first  to  give  the  new 
flag  to  the  breeze  on  his  eighteen- 
gun  vessel,  the  Ranger. 


FIRST   ClIEBR   FOB   THE   STARS   AND   STRIPES  (lt»7). 


160  THE   REVOLUTIONARY   WAR.  [l777 

Aid  from  France. — In  1777,  in  response  to  an  appeal  from 
Congress,  the  French  government,  ever  hostile  to  England, 
secretly  sent  over  ordnance,  muskets,  and  powder,  to  aid  the 
patriots.  A  most  valuable  accession  to  the  cause  was  also 
received  in  the  young  Marquis  de  Lafayette  (deJi  lah-fa-et'). 
He  had  heard  of  the  stand  taken  by  the  colonies  with  enthu 
siastic  admiration  ;  and  leaving  home,  friends,  brilliant  pros 
pects,  and  a  young  wife,  he  came  to  offer  his  sword  to  the 
struggling  friends  of  freedom.  Though  he  was  not  yet  twen 
ty,  Congress  commissioned  him  as  a  major-general,  and  he 
became  the  life-long  friend  of  Washington.  Kosciusko  (Jcos- 
se-us'ko)  and  Pulaski  (pu-las'ke),  illustrious  Poles  whom  the 
misfortunes  of  their  country  had  driven  into  exile,  and  the 
Baron  De  Kalb,  an  experienced  German  officer,  joined  the 
service  about  the  same  time. 

Burgoyne's  Campaign. — An  invasion  of  the  states  from 
the  north  formed  a  prominent  part  of  the  British  plans  for 
1777.  Gen.  Burgoyne,  who  was  intrusted  with  the  com 
mand  of  the  expedition,  was  to  ascend  Lake  Champlain,  fall 
on  Ticonderoga,  take  Albany,  and  with  aid  from  New  York 
by  way  of  the  Hudson  reduce  the  American  posts  in  the 
Highlands.  New  England  would  thus  be  isolated  from  the 
Middle  States,  and  unable  to  aid  Washington,  who  was 
meanwhile  to  be  hard  pressed  by  Howe.  Burgoyne  started 
with  about  10,000  men.  Having  been  joined  near  Crown 
Point  by  400  warriors  of  the  Six  Nations,  he  issued  a  high- 
flown  proclamation  bristling  with  threats  against  any  who 
should  venture  to  offer  resistance. 

On  the  1st  of  July  the  British  reached  Ticonderoga. 
The  American  garrison  at  this  place  consisted  of  less  than 
3,500  men,  scantily  provided  with  stores  and  ammunition. 
When  their  general,  St.  Clair,  saw  the  enemy  in  possession 
of  a  neighboring  height  which  commanded  his  works  and 
which  he  had  neglected  to  occupy,  he  realized  that  he  must 
either  lose  his  army  or  evacuate  the  place.  In  the  night 


1777]  BURGOYNE'S  CAMPAIGN.  161 

following  July  5th,  sending  his  stores  up  the  lake  to  Skenes- 
borough  (see  Map,  p.  116),  he  withdrew  his  army,  on  the 
Vermont  side.  The  British  were  soon  in  hot  pursuit.  The 
American  vessels,  with  their  contents,  they  succeeded  in 
capturing  or  destroying  ;  and  St.  Glair's  rear-guard  was 
overtaken  and  worsted  with  heavy  loss. 

While  Burgoyne  pushed  slowly  on  toward  the  Hudson, 
part  of  the  flying  Americans  succeeded  in  reaching  the  main 
body  of  the  northern  army  at  Fort  Edward.  Gen.  Schuyler, 
who  commanded  the  department,  obstructed  the  enemy's  ad 
vance  in  every  way  he  could,  but  was  obliged  to  fall  back 
before  them  ;  and  it  seemed  as  if  the  whole  upper  valley  of 
the  Hudson  were  at  their  mercy. 

Jane  McCrea. — The  atrocities  committed  by  Burgoyne's 
Indians  brought  odium  on  a  cause  which  could  tolerate  such 
inhuman  warfare.  The  tragical  fate  of  Jane  McCrea  (mak- 
kra')  may  be  mentioned  in  this  connection.  While  the  in 
vading  army  was  near  Fort  Edward,  a  party  of  savages  car 
ried  her  off  from  the  house  of  a  friend  with  whom  she  was 
staying.  Shortly  afterward  they  appeared  in  camp  with 
her  scalp.  Whether  she  was  tomahawked  on  the  way  by 
her  captors,  in  consequence  of  their  quarrelling  among  them 
selves — or,  as  they  alleged,  was  killed  by  a  shot  from  a  pur 
suing  party  of  Americans,  and  then  scalped  according  to 
Indian  usage  —  the  barbarous  deed  awakened  universal 
loathing. 

St.  Leger's  Expedition. — At  the  same  time  that  Bur 
goyne  left  Canada,  Colonel  St.  Leger  had  been  dispatched 
with  700  Rangers  to  the  Mohawk  Valley,  by  way  of  the  St. 
Lawrence  and  Oswego.  After  overrunning  the  country  and 
calling  out  the  Indians  and  tories,  he  was  to  effect  a  junc 
tion  with  his  chief  at  Albany.  St.  Leger  encountered  lit 
tle  or  no  resistance  till  he  reached  the  spot  where  Rome, 
N.  Y.,  now  stands.  Here,  his  force  increased  by  1,000 
tories  and  Iroquois,  he  halted  to  besiege  Fort  Schuyler, 


162  THE    REVOLUTIONARY    WAR.  [l7T7 

held  by  Colonel  Gansevoort  and  a  determined  garrison 
(August  3d — see  Map,  p.  170).  Unprovided  with  a  flag, 
they  managed  to  manufacture  one  out  of  an  old  shirt, 
pieces  of  scarlet  cloth,  and  the  blue  cloak  of  one  of  their 
captains — no  very  elegant  banner,  yet  one  which  they 
determined  to  defend  to  the  last  extremity. 

A  body  of  militia  from  the  neighboring  country,  advanc 
ing  to  the  relief  of  the  fort  under  Gen.  Her'kimer,  fell  into 
an  ambuscade  at  Oris'kany,  and  though  they  retained  pos 
session  of  the  field  failed  of  their  object.  On  receiving  this 
news,  Schuyler  sent  Arnold  with  some  volunteers  from  his 
camp,  to  raise  the  siege.  They  succeeded  in  so  doing,  by 
an  ingenious  stratagem.  Arnold  pardoned  a  half-witted 
tory  who  had  been  condemned  to  the  gallows,  on  condition 
that  he  would  make  the  besiegers  believe  that  an  immense 
host  of  Americans  was  at  hand.  The  tory  played  his  part 
to  perfection.  Rushing  into  the  camp  as  if  pursued,  with 
bullet-holes  through  his  coat,  he  communicated  such  a  panic 
to  both  Indians  and  whites,  that  they  were  soon  in  full  flight 
for  Oswego.  So  ended  St.  Leger's  expedition  (August  22d). 

Battle  of  Bennington. — For  the  purpose  of  replenishing 
his  supplies,  Burgoyne,  before  hearing  of  St.  Leger's  fail 
ure,  sent  out  a  strong  party  under  Colonel  Baum  to  Ben- 
nington,  in  what  is  now  south-western  Vermont.  They 
were  met  on  the  16th  of  August  by  Gen.  Stark,  whom  the 
Assembly  of  New  Hampshire  had  sent  to  the  frontier  of  the 
state  with  a  brigade  of  militia.  "To-day,  men,  we'll  beat 
the  red-coats,  or  Molly  Stark's  a  widow,"  was  the  veteran's 
inspiring  address  to  his  men  before  engaging.  And  they 
did  beat  the  red-coats — not  only  Baum's  detachment,  but 
another  sent  to  re-enforce  it,  which  arrived  soon  after  the 
first  battle.  Seven  hundred  prisoners,  with  four  field- 
pieces,  as  many  ammunition-wagons,  and  nearly  a  thou 
sand  stands  of  arms,  were  among  the  trophies  of  Ben- 
nington. 


1777] 


BUEGOYNE'S  CAMPAIGN. 


163 


First  Battle  of  Stillwater. — These  two  blows  proved  fatal 
to  Burgoyne,  leading  the  Indians  and  Canadians  to  desert, 
deterring  the  tories  from  joining  his  ranks,  and  putting  him 
to  great  straits  for  provisions.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
Americans  kept  gathering  strength  ;  the  militia  poured  in, 
and  two  brigades  arrived  from  the  Highlands.  Just  at  this 
juncture,  when  his  labors  seemed  on  the  eve  of  being  crowned 
with  victory,  Schuyler,  by  order  of  Congress,  was  superseded 
by  Gen.  Gates.  Deeply  wounded  as  he  was  by  this  in 
justice,  Schuyler  did  not  resent  it ;  on  the  contrary,  he  still 
spared  no  effort  for  his  country,  and  helped  his  rival  reap 
the  harvest  which  of  right  belonged  to  himself. 

Gates  was  soon  in  a  condition  to  assume  a  bolder  front, 
and  determined  to  arrest 
the  progress  of  the  invad 
ers  at  Be'mis's  Heights, 
which  Kosciusko  was 
charged  with  fortifying. 
Moving  slowly  amid  dif 
ficulties  that  began  to 
look  serious,  on  the  19th 
of  September  Burgoyne 
approached  the  American 
lines,  and  a  general  action 
was  brought  on.  This 
first  battle  of  Stillwater, 
as  it  is  called,  was  fought 
with  the  most  determined 
bravery,  Morgan's  rifle 
men  and  Gen.  Arnold 
particularly  distinguish 
ing  themselves  on  the 
American  side.  The  field 
was  several  times  succes 
sively  won  and  lost  by 


164:  THE   REVOLUTIONARY   WAR.  [l777 

the  contending  parties.  When  night  fell,  the  Continental 
troops  withdrew  within  their  lines,  with  a  loss  of  300  men 
to  500  on  the  part  of  the  enemy,  though  the  latter  claimed 
the  victory  in  consequence  of  finally  holding  the  field.  The 
next  day,  the  British,  finding  their  adversaries  indisposed 
to  renew  the  engagement,  retired  to  their  encampment  two 
miles  north  of  where  the  Americans  lay. 

Meanwhile  Burgoyne's  communications  with  Canada  had 
been  severed  by  the  capture  of  posts  in  his  rear.  Many  of 
the  provision-boats  which  were  now  his  sole  reliance  had 
become  the  spoil  of  enterprising  parties  of  militia.  It  hardly 
looked  as  if  the  British  chief  would  eat  his  Christmas  dinner 
in  Albany,  surrounded  by  the  trophies  of  victory,  as  he  had 
boasted.  No  news  came  from  New  York,  whither  pressing 
messages  had  been  sent  for  help  ;  nothing  was  left  but  to 
risk  another  engagement,  with  the  view  of  forcing  a  passage 
through  the  American  lines. 

The  Second  Battle  of  Stillwater  took  place  October  7, 
1777,  on  ground  a  little  west  of  the  former  battle-field.  It 
was  a  terrible  conflict,  in  which  Gen.  Frazer  was  the  hero  on 
the  British  side,  while  Morgan  and  Arnold  were  foremost 
among  the  patriots,  Gates  prudently  keeping  out  of  harm's 
way  in  the  camp.  Arnold,  deprived  of  command  by  the  jeal 
ousy  of  Gates,  remained  a  looker-on  as  long  as  he  was  able; 
but  at  last  he  could  restrain  himself  no  longer,  and  dashed 
upon  the  foe,  heading  charge  after  charge,  stimulating  his 
men  to  desperate  deeds,  carrying  dismay  into  the  hostile 
ranks,  challenging  death,  and  finally  falling  severely  wound 
ed — but  not  till  the  battle  was  won,  in  great  part  by  his  valor. 
Night  put  a  stop  to  the  conflict  ;  before  morning  Burgoyne 
had  moved  his  army  and  camp  to  the  north,  with  the  view 
of  retreating  to  Fort  Edward. 

Burgoyne's  Surrender. — But  retreat  the  British  general 
could  not ;  he  was  surrounded  by  vigilant  enemies.  His 
camp  was  filled  with  wounded  and  dying  ;  food  he  had 


1777]  BURGOYNE' s  SURRENDER.  165 

little  ;  even  his  supply  of  water  was  uncertain,  for  women 
had  to  bring  it  from  the  river,  the  American  sharp-shooters 
picking  off  any  soldiers  that  were  sent  for  that  purpose.  On 
the  13th  of  October,  Burgoyne  proposed  to  capitulate.  The 
terms  were  agreed  on  and  the  papers  drawn,  when,  on  the 
night  of  the  16th,  a  messenger  from  below  brought  word  that 
Gen.  Clinton  had  taken  Forts  Montgomery  and  Clinton  (see 
Map,  p.  183),  and  was  coming  up  the  river. 

Burgoyne  felt  like  reconsidering  ;  but  when,  the  next 
morning,  Gates,  with  his  army  in  battle  array,  demanded  an 
immediate  answer,  the  British  general  had  to  yield.  That 
same  day  (October  17th),  5,791  men — all  that  was  left  of  his 
grand  army — surrendered  on  the  plains  of  Saratoga.  Valu 
able  ordnance  and  small-arms  at  the  same  time  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  victors.  Thanksgivings  rose  from  every  true 
heart,  as  the  joyful  news  of  Burgoyne's  surrender  sped  from 
lip  to  lip. 

Howe's  Campaign. — While  Gates  was  winning  laurels  in 
the  north,  Washington  was  vainly  trying  to  stem  the  tide 
of  British  invasion  in  Pennsylvania.  Howe,  unable  to  bring 
his  adversary  to  a  general  engagement  in  New  Jersey,  had 
sailed  from  Staten  Island  in  July  with  18,000  men,  intending 
to  fall  on  Philadelphia  by  way  of  the  Delaware.  Learning, 
however,  that  the  Americans  had  obstructed  the  channel  of 
the  river,  he  changed  his  course  to  Chesapeake  Bay,  and 
landed  near  its  north-eastern  extremity,  whence  a  march  of 
fifty  miles  would  bring  him  to  Philadelphia. 

Battle  of  Brandywine. — Washington,  though  his  effective 
force  was  but  11,000  strong,  could  not  let  this  important 
city  be  taken  without  a  blow  in  its  defence.  Accordingly, 
he  threw  himself  in  Howe's  path  at  Brandywine  Creek  (see 
Map,  p.  155).  A  division  under  Cornwallis,  crossing  the 
stream  higher  up,  fell  on  the  American  flank,  and  caused  the 
whole  line  to  retreat  in  confusion  and  with  great  loss  (Sep 
tember  llth). 


166  THE   REVOLUTIONARY   WAR.  [l77T 

Four  days  afterward  Washington  brought  up  his  army 
for  another  battle,  but  after  some  skirmishing  a  violent  storm 
put  an  end  to  fighting  for  the  time.  Howe  then  made  a 
feint  of  marching  on  Reading  (red'ing),  and,  when  Washing- 
ington  turned  aside  to  protect  this  place,  availed  himself  of 
the  opportunity  to  push  on  to  Philadelphia.  Surprising  an 
American  detachment  left  to  check  his  advance,  he  entered 
the  metropolis  of  Pennsylvania,  September  26th. 

Germant own. —Forts  Mifflin  and  Mercer.— The  principal 
operations  during  the  remainder  of  the  year  were  a  surprise 
of  the  British  at  Germantown  by  Washington  (October  4th), 
which,  though  at  first  promising*  success,  terminated  in  a  re 
pulse, — and  the  opening  of  the  Delaware  to  the  British  fleet, 
by  the  capture  of  Forts  Mifflin  and  Mercer  below  the  city 
(see  Map,  p.  155).  Fort  Mercer  withstood  a  fierce  assault ; 
but  the  garrison  of  Fort  Mifflin,  after  holding  out  against  a 
continued  attack  till  their  guns  were  disabled,  set  fire  to 
what  remained  of  the  works  and  crossed  the  river  to  Fort 
Mercer.  On  the  approach  of  a  greatly  superior  British  force, 
it  was  found  necessary  to  abandon  this  fort  also,  and  to 
leave  the  river  in  possession  of  the  enemy. 

Valley  Forge,  on  the  Schuylkill  River,  twenty-two  miles 
from  Philadelphia,  was  selected  by  Washington  for  the  win 
ter-quarters  of  his  army.  Thither,  on  the  llth  of  December, 
he  led  his  suffering  men,  some  of  whom  bare-footed  left  their 
tracks  in  blood  upon  the  ground.  Dreadful  were  the  trials 
of  the  dreary  winter  that  followed.  Only  pure  love  of  coun 
try  could  have  enabled  the  shivering  and  hungry  followers 
of  Washington  to  bear  the  hardships  of  Valley  Forge. 

Nor  were  Washington's  trials  less.  His  defeats  were 
contrasted  with  the  splendid  victory  which  had  but  lately 
humbled  the  British  lion  in  the  north.  For  the  moment 
some  of  the  best  friends  of  freedom  lost  confidence  in  him, 
and  a  plot  was  even  formed  in  Congress  to  raise  Gates  to 
the  chief  command  in  his  stead.  So  gloomily  closed  the 


1777] 


THE   REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 


167 


VALLEY  FORGE. 


year  1777.  No  wonder  that,  as  one  who  overheard  him  tells 
us,  Washington  in  this  dark  hour  knelt  in  a  thicket  and 
wrestled  in  prayer  with  the  God  of  battles. 


REVIEW     BY     DATES. 


Continue  the  CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD  from  page  111,  according  to  the 
following  suggestions.     Review  as  heretofore  directed. 


1754  (War  begun). 

"     (Great  Meadows). 
"     (Fort  Necessity). 

1755  (New  Brunswick). 
"     (Braddock). 

"    (Dieskau). 

1756  (Oswego). 


1758  (Ticonderoga). 
"     (Louisburg). 


1766  (Act  repealed). 

1767  (Duties  laid). 


(Fort  Du  Quesne).    1770  (Massacre). 


1759  (Ticonderoga). 
"     (Quebec). 

1760  (Canada). 

1763  (Treaty.     War). 
1757  (Ft. William  Henry).  1765  (Act  passed). 

Sum  up  the  operations  of  the  Revolutionary  War  in  1777,  favorable  to 
the  Americans.     Mention  those  in  which  the  British  had  the  advantage. 


1771  (Regulators). 

1773  (Tea-party). 

1774  (Port  Bill). 
"     (Gen.  Gage). 
"     (Congress). 


168  THE  REVOLUTIONARY   WAK.  [l778 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

REVOLUTIONARY    WAR:    EVENTS  OF   1778-1779. 

Rays  of  light  shot  now  and  then  athwart  the  darkness 
that  brooded  over  Valley  Forge.  Thither  came  Baron  Steu- 
ben,  who  had  served  in  the  Seven  Years'  War  under  Fred 
erick  of  Prussia,  the  Great  Captain  of  Europe,  and  who,  ap 
pointed  inspector-general  of  the  Continental  army,  soon 
made  his  skillful  management  apparent  in  every  depart 
ment.  Still  better,  through  the  arguments  of  Dr.  Franklin, 
supported  by  the  overthrow  of  Burgoyne,  the  French  gov 
ernment  had  become  convinced  that  the  States  would  ulti 
mately  triumph,  and  on  the  6th  of  February,  1778,  recog 
nized  their  independence.  In  case  of  Great  Britain's  resent 
ing  this  action  (as  she  did),  France  was  to  make  common 
cause  with  America.  Finally,  the  storm  that  had  gathered 
over  Washington  broke  away,  the  intrigues  against  him 
exciting  general  indignation,  especially  in  the  army. 

Evacuation  of  Philadelphia. — As  a  French  fleet  might 
now  at  any  moment  appear  in  the  Delaware,  the  British 
thought  it  best  to  evacuate  Philadelphia.  Before  they  did 
so,  Howe,  recalled  at  his  own  request,  surrendered  the  chief 
command  to  Gen.  Clinton.  Commissioners,  also,  arrived 
from  England,  who  proposed  a  suspension  of  hostilities,  and 
offered  everything  that  the  colonies  had  at  first  demanded. 
Congress,  however,  declined  to  treat  until  the  British  troops 
should  be  withdrawn  or  the  independence  of  the  United 
States  acknowledged.  So  the  negotiations  failed  ;  and  Clin 
ton,  having  sent  his  fleet  to  New  York,  commenced  his  march 
thither  across  New  Jersey,  at  the  head  of  12,000  men. 

Battle  of  Monmouth. — Washington  immediately  broke 
camp  at  Valley  Forge,  and,  leaving  Arnold  with  a  small 
detachment  to  take  possession  of  Philadelphia,  followed  the 


1778]  BATTLE   OF   MONMOUTH.  169 

enemy.  Overtaking  them  at  Monmouth  (see  Map,  p.  155), 
he  resolved  to  risk  a  general  engagement.  Lee,  who  had 
advised  to  the  contrary,  was  directed  to  commence  the  at 
tack,  and  did  so,  on.  a  hot  Sunday  morning,  June  28,  1778. 
Lee's  movements,  however,  were  so  strange  as  to  excite  the 
suspicions  of  Lafayette,  who  sent  an  urgent  message  to  the 
commander-in-chief  to  hasten  forward.  As  Washington 
came  up  at  the  head  of  the  main  body,  he  was  thunder 
struck  to  meet  Lee's  division  in  full  retreat. 

Then  was  seen  Washington's  power  as  a  commander. 
Staying  the  flight,  inspiring  confidence,  bringing  order  out 
of  confusion,  he  turned  defeat  into  victory.  At  twilight  he 
remained  master  of  the  field,  with  his  army  advantageously 
posted  to  renew  the  battle  in  the  morning  ;  but  in  the  morn 
ing  no  enemy  was  there.  The  American  loss  was  229,  the 
British  considerably  greater  ;  many  fell  on  both  sides  from 
the  excessive  heat.  Clinton  withdrew  his  men  unmolested 
to  Sandy  Hook,  whence  his  fleet  conveyed  them  to  New 
York.  The  American  army  made  its  way  across  the  Hud 
son,  and  encamped  near  its  old  quarters  at  White  Plains. 

Molly  Pitcher's  heroic  conduct  in  this  battle  has  made 
her  name  famous.  She  was  a  gunner's  wife,  and  already 
renowned  for  her  bravery  at  Fort  Clinton,  where,  when  her 
husband  threw  down  his  match  at  the  sight  of  the  British 
mounting  the  rampart,  she  had  caught  it  up  and  fired  the 
last  shot  at  the  approaching  foe.  At  Monmouth,  seeing  her 
husband  struck  by  a  ball  and  no  one  to  take  his  place,  she 
sprang  to  the  gun  and  served  it  so  well  that  the  next  day 
she  was  commissioned  as  sergeant,  and  afterward  went  by 
the  name  of  Captain  Molly. 

Attack  on  Newport.  —The  expected  French  fleet,  with 
4,000  troops  on  board,  arrived  early  in  July,  1778.  Its  com 
mander,  Admiral  D'Estaing  (des-tan9'),  after  threatening 
New  York,  determined  to  attack  the  British  at  Newport ; 
Sullivan,  with  Greene,  Lafayette,  and  10,000  Americans, 
8 


170 


THE   REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 


[1778 


^Si» 

^ 

2V 


was  sent  to  cooperate  with  him.  The  island  was  occupied, 
and  the  siege  commenced.  At  this  juncture,  just  as  the 
French  and  the  English  fleet  were  about  to  engage,  a  great 
storm  separated  them,  and  obliged  the  former  to  make  for 
Boston  to  refit.  Feeling  that  without  assistance  he  could 
not  carry  the  siege  to  a  successful  issue,  Sullivan  gave  it 
up,  and,  after  repulsing  an  attack  of  the  British,  skillfully 
withdrew  his  men  from  the  island. 

Indian  and  Tory  Raids. — WYOMING. — After  St.  Leger's 
flight  from  Fort  Schuyler,  the  tories  and  Indians  gave  no 
trouble  in  that  quarter  for  a  time ;  but  in  July,  1778,  a  body 
of  them  1,100  strong,  under  Colonel  John  Butler  and  the 
Seneca  chief  He-that-walks-in-smoJce,  entered  the  lovely  val 
ley  of  Wyo'ming,  in 
Pennsylvania,  on  the 
Susquehanna  River. 
Most  of  the  able- 
bodied  men  had  gone 
to  fight  for  their  coun 
try,  and  the  small 
force  that  sallied  forth 
to  meet  the  invaders 
was  beaten  back,  and 
fled  in  confusion.  No 
mercy  was  shown  to 
the  prisoners  ;  the 
flames,  the  war-club, 
and  the  tomahawk, 
sealed  their  fate. 
Queen  Esther,  an  In 
dian  half-breed,  infuriated  by  the  loss  of  her  son  shortly  be 
fore,  murdered  fourteen  with  her  own  hands. 

Two  days  after,  the  defenceless  people  who  had  taken 
refuge  in  the  adjacent  fort  surrendered,  on  the  promise  of 
protection  for  their  lives  and  property.  But  the  Indians 


SCENES  OF  INDIAN  MASSACRES,  1TT8,  1779. 


1778]  INDIAN    AND   TORY    RAIDS.  171 

soon  set  restraint  at  defiance,  and  spread  terror  far  and 
near,  burning  and  plundering.  Wilkesbarre  (wilks' bar-re), 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Susquehanna,  was  given  to  the 
flames,  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  surrounding  country  were 
compelled  to  flee  to  the  nearest  settlements,  across  mountain- 
swamps  that  are  still  called  "the  Shades  of  Death."  Many 
perished  from  exposure  and  starvation.  One  of  the  fugi 
tives  is  said  to  have  thrown  himself  on  the  earth,  to  lap  up 
a  few  grains  of  meal  that  had  been  spilled  ;  another  carried 
her  dead  infant  many  weary  miles,  to  save  its  body  from 
the  wolves. 

CHERRY  VALLEY. — In  November,  Butler's  son  and  the 
noted  Mohawk  Brant  made  a  similar  descent  on  Cherry  Val 
ley,  near  Otse'go  Lake,  N.  Y.  They  left  the  place  in  ruins, 
and  committed  murders  and  ravages  in  which  the  savage 
chief  was  outdone  by  his  white  companion. 

MIXISINK. — The  next  year  (July,  1779),  Brant,  with  some 
Indians  and  tories,  extended  his  depredations  to  Orange 
County,  N.  Y.,  burned  the  village  of  Minisink,  a  settlement 
near  Goshen,  and  cut  off  a  party  of  volunteers  that  went  to 
look  for  him.  In  one  of  their  incursions,  a  school-house  lay 
in  the  path  of  the  destroyers  ;  Brant  killed  the  master,  but 
spared  the  girls,  and  made  some  hieroglyphics  with  black 
paint  on  their  aprons,  which  his  followers  as  they  came  up 
respected.  After  several  of  the  boys,  who  were  without 
such  protection,  had  been  tomahawked,  these  brave  girls, 
at  the  risk  of  being  killed  themselves,  threw  their  aprons 
over  their  brothers,  and  thus  saved  them  from  the  parties 
that  followed. 

The  necessity  of  prompt  measures  to  put  a  stop  to  such 
atrocities,  was  evident.  In  August,  1779,  General  Sullivan 
invaded  the  Iroquois  country,  and,  defeating  Brant  with  his 
tory  allies  on  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Elmira,  went  on 
to  the  valley  of  the  Genesee,  burning  the  villages  of  the 
Indians  and  destroying  their  crops. 


172  THE   REVOLUTIONARY   WAR.  [1779 

British  Raids, — After  the  battle  of  Monmouth,  Washing 
ton's  army  did  little  during  the  remainder  of  the  year  but 
watch  the  British.  They  spent  the  following  winter  in  a 
line  of  cantonments  extending  on  the  south  to  Middlebrook, 
on  the  Rar'itan  River,  N.  J.  Great  damage  was  done  by 
raiding-parties  sent  out  by  Gen.  Clinton  from  time  to  time. 
The  ruthless  Tryon,  an  adept  at  this  kind  of  work,  found 
employment  for  his  talents  in  Connecticut  (March  and  July, 
1779)  ;  and  Gen.  Matthews,  toward  the  close  of  spring,  made 
havoc  on  the  James  and  Elizabeth  Rivers  in  Virginia,  burn 
ing  merchant-vessels  and  ships-of-war,  and  carrying  off  to 
bacco  and  whatever  other  booty  he  could  find. 

Stony  Point. — About  the  beginning  of  summer,  1779, 
Clinton  himself  conducted  an  expedition  up  the  Hudson, 
and  captured  the  American  works  at  Stony  and  Verplanck's 
Point  (see  Map,  p.  183),  about  forty  miles  up  the  river. 
Washington  immediately  made  such  a  disposition  of  his 
army  as  to  protect  the  works  higher  up,  particularly  the 
strong  fort  at  West  Point,  which  had  been  commenced  the 
preceding  year  by  Kosciusko.  But  the  enemy's  possession 
of  the  two  posts  thus  taken,  commanding  King's  Ferry  on 
the  most  direct  highway  to  the  Eastern  States,  occasioned 
great  annoyance  ;  and  Gen.  Anthony  Wayne,  who  had  made 
his  mark  at  Germantown  and  Monmouth,  was  charged  with 
their  recovery. 

A  negro  who  was  in  the  habit  of  trading  with  the  garri 
son  having  been  secured  as  guide,  Stony  Point  was  sur 
prised  by  a  night  attack  and  brilliantly  carried  (July  16, 
1779).  Unable  to  hold  the  works,  in  view  of  the  force  that 
could  be  sent  against  them  from  New  York,  Washington 
ordered  their  destruction.  The  British  kept  possession  of 
Verplanck's  Point,  and  a  few  days  afterward  again  occupied 
the  opposite  headland. 

Movements  at  the  South. — Meanwhile  the  British  com- 
mander-in-chief,  having  made  little  headway  at  the  north,  in 


1779]  MOVEMENTS    IN   THE   SOUTH.  173 

the  fall  of  1778  dispatched  a  fleet  and  land-force  to  operate 
in  the  Southern  States.  Savannah,  the  first  point  attacked, 
though  bravely  defended,  was  taken,  and  the  subjugation  of 
eastern  Georgia  followed. 

The  next  aggressive  movements  of  the  British  were  made 
in  South  Carolina  (1779).  The  plantations  of  "rebels" 
were  overrun  and  pillaged,  slaves  driven  off,  and  outrages 
of  every  kind  committed,  while  prisoners  were  maltreated 
and  hanged  on  both  sides.  Moultrie  drove  the  enemy  from 
Port  Royal  (see  Map,  p.  186),  and  Pickens  broke  up  a  party 
of  North  Carolina  tories  on  their  way  to  swell  the  British 
ranks  ;  but  Gen.  Ashe,  with  a  body  of  militia,  was  defeated 
at  Brier  Creek.  Charleston  was  seriously  threatened,  but 
the  militia  under  Moultrie  and  Governor  Rutledge,  aided  by 
Pulaski's  Legion,  protected  the  city  till  Gen.  Lincoln's  ap 
proach  forced  the  British  to  retire  (May,  1779). 

The  summer  passed,  and  in  the  next  operations  at  the 
south  the  Americans  and  French  assumed  the  offensive. 
D'Estaing,  after  cruising  in  the  West  Indies,  appeared  off 
the  coast  of  Georgia,  and  an  attack  on  Savannah  was  planned 
between  him  and  Lincoln.  The  British  could  not  have  stood 
a  long  siege  ;  but  after  a  few  days'  cannonading  D'Estaing 
became  impatient,  and  threatened  to  leave  unless  Lincoln 
would  consent  to  an  immediate  assault.  Accordingly,  a 
determined  but  unsuccessful  attempt  to  carry  the  fortifica 
tions  by  storm  was  made  on  the  9th  of  October. 

Pulaski,  one  of  America's  truest  friends,  fell  at  the  head 
of  his  Legion  ;  D'Estaing,  disabled,  was  carried  from  the 
field  ;  Sergeant  Jasper,  unhurt  in  performing  a  similar 
exploit  at  Fort  Moultrie,  just  as  he  had  fixed  in  the  parapet 
the  crescent  flag  of  South  Carolina,  received  his  death-wound 
from  a  rifle-ball.  The  assailants  were  repulsed,  losing  nearly 
1,100  men,  while  the  British  loss  was  little  more  than  a  hun 
dred.  The  French  commander  refused  to  continue  the  siege ; 
so,  while  he  set  sail  for  France  after  having  effected  little 


174 


THE   REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 


[1779 


FALL  OF  JASPER  AT  SAVANNAH. 


or  nothing,  the  disap 
pointed  Lincoln  led  back 
the  remains  of  his  army 
to  Charleston. 

Naval  Operations. — Congress  had  not  been  blind  to  the 
importance  of  establishing  a  navy,  but  the  efforts  made  in 
that  direction  were  not  at  first  particularly  successful. 
While  many  brilliant  achievements  had  been  performed 
by  privateers,  the  national  vessels  had,  for  the  most  part, 
either  been  blockaded  in  port  or  destroyed  before  they  were 
fully  equipped.  Commodore  Biddle  had,  indeed,  maintained 
the  honor  of  his  country  on  the  ocean  ;  but  in  March,  1778, 
during  an  action  with  a  British  vessel  carrying  twice  as 
many  guns  as  his  own,  his  magazine  exploded,  and  killed 
him  together  with  most  of  his  crew. 

Chief  among  the  American  naval  heroes  of  this  period  was 
John  Paul  Jones,  already  mentioned  as  the  first  to  raise  the 
stars  and  stripes.  In  1778,  he  made  the  newly-adopted  flag 
an  object  of  terror  on  the  Scottish  and  English  coasts.  Sep- 


1770]  PAUL   JONES.  175 

tember  of  the  following  year  is  memorable  for  his  action 
with  the  British  frigate  Serapis.  After  one  of  the  most  des 
perate  conflicts  on  record,  the  muzzles  of  the  guns  almost 
touching  each  other  as  they  were  fired,  the  Serapis  struck. 
The  American  vessel  was  so  badly  cut  up  that  her  crew  had 
to  be  transferred  to  the  prize,  and  she  sunk  shortly  after 
ward.  

GENERAL     REVIEW    AND     MAP     QUESTIONS. 

(Refer  to  the  Maps  on  pages  155,  163,  170,  and  183.) 

What  three  places  in  New  Jersey  were  noted  Revolutionary  battle 
fields  ?  What  two  places  in  Pennsylvania  ?  Mention  these  five  battles  in 
the  order  of  their  occurrence.  Which  of  them  were  favorable  to  the  Ameri 
cans  ?  In  which  did  Washington  command  ?  Whom  did  he  encounter  at 
Brandywine  ?  Whom  at  Monmouth  ? 

Near  what  boundary  did  the  battle  of  Brandywine  take  place  ?  How 
were  Forts  Miflflin  and  Mercer  situated  ?  In  what  direction  from  Philadel 
phia  was  Yalley  Forge  ?  Middlebrook  ?  Morristown  ?  In  what  connec 
tion  have  these  places  been  mentioned  ? 

Between  what  lake  and  river  were  the  two  battles  of  Stillwater  fought  ? 
In  what  town  did  the  surrender  take  place  ?  Near  what  present  village  ? 
In  what  direction  did  the  field  of  surrender  lie  from  the  battle-fields  ?  Who 
particularly  distinguished  themselves  in  the  second  battle  ? 

How  was  Fort  Schuyler  situated  ?  What  events  took  place  here  ? 
Where  is  Oris'kany?  For  what  is  this  place  noted?  Of  what  lake  is  the 
Susquehanna  River  the  outlet  ?  What  place  is  near  the  head  of  Otsego 
Lake  ?  What  happened  at  Cherry  Yalley  ?  At  what  place  east  of  Cherry 
Yalley  was  there  once  an  Indian  massacre  ?  Give  an  account  of  it. 

Where  was  Wyoming  ?  What  present  city  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
Susquehanna  ?  For  what  is  this  region  now  noted  ?  For  Us  coal.  Where 
is  Goshen  ?  Minisink  ?  For  what  is  Minisink  memorable  ?  In  which  of 
the  massacres  just  mentioned  did  Brant  take  part? 

Where  was  the  battle  of  Long  Island  fought  ?  Where  is  Jamaica  ? 
Who  was  mortally  wounded  near  Jamaica  ?  Relate  the  circumstances. 
Near  what  river  is  White  Plains  ?  On  which  side  of  the  Hudson  is  Yer- 
planck's  Point  ?  Stony  Point  ?  What  two  forts  higher  up  ?  Above  these, 
what  fort  was  commenced  in  1788  ?  What  river  empties  into  the  Hudson, 
south  of  Yerplanck's  Point  ?  Where  was  the  Neutral  Ground  ?  Where 
was  Fort  Lee  ?  What  fort  opposite  to  it  ? 


176 


THE   REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 


[1780 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

REVOLUTIONARY  WAR:  EVENTS  OF  1780. 

Financial  Difficulties. — Among  the  difficulties  with  which 
Congress  had  to  contend  in  conducting  the  war,  not  the  least 
was  the  want  of  money.  It  had  been  obliged  to  resort  to 
bills  of  credit,  issued  from  time  to  time  in  denominations  of 
from  $1  to  $20,  on  pledge  of  the  public  faith  for  their  re 
demption  in  gold  or  silver.  At  first  this  Continental  money, 


OUR  DOLLARS.     Wo 


CONTINENTAL  BILL. 

as  it  was  called,  passed  for  its  face  ;  but  as  the  issue  in 
creased,  reaching  in  1780  the  enormous  amount  of  $200,- 
000,000,  while  there  seemed  to  be  no  prospect  of  ever  pay 
ing  the  debt,  it  naturally  fell  rapidly  in  value.  A  skein  of 
silk  at  one  time  cost  $10  in  Continental  money,  a  yard  of 
calico  $85;  and,  at  last,  in  1781,  no  one  would  take  the  paper- 
money  at  all.  The  individual  states  had  also  issued  bills  of 


1780]  CAPTURE   OF   CHARLESTON.  177 

their  own,  which  stood  no  better  than  the  Continental  notes  ; 
$750,  for  example,  in  South  Carolina  money,  was  asked  for 
a  pair  of  shoes.  Speculators  of  course  turned  this  derange 
ment  of  the  currency  to  their  own  advantage,  at  the  expense 
of  the  people. 

These  were  evils  harder  to  be  overcome  than  British 
armies.  Small  loans,  indeed,  were  obtained  after  a  time  in 
France  and  Holland,  and  the  establishment  of  the  Bank  of 
North  America  (December  31, 1781),  under  the  management 
of  Robert  Morris,  of  Philadelphia,  with  authority  to  issue 
notes  redeemable  on  demand  in  gold  or  silver,  helped  to 
relieve  the  pressure  ;  but  the  financial  condition  of  the 
country  was  for  a  while  desperate. 

Capture  of  Charleston. — The  British  campaign  for  1780 
had  in  view  the  complete  reduction  of  the  Southern  States. 
Early  in  the  year,  Gen.  Clinton  himself  took  the  field  with 
5,000  troops,  and  directed  his  first  efforts  against  Charleston. 
Gen.  Lincoln  defended  the  city  with  an  insufficient  force,  in 
the  hope  of  receiving  succor.  But  none  arrived,  while  3,000 
additional  troops  from  New  York  under  Cornwallis  swelled 
the  enemy's  ranks.  The  British  lines  were  brought  closer 
and  closer,  a  terrible  cannonading  was  kept  up,  and  Lincoln 
had  finally  to  capitulate  (May  12,  1780).  Five  thousand 
men,  the  chief  hope  of  the  patriots  of  the  south,  thus  be 
came  prisoners. 

Immediately  after  this  blow,  expeditions  were  sent  out  in 
different  quarters  by  the  British  commander,  to  overawe  the 
republicans.  Augusta,  Ninety-Six,  and  Camden  (for  places 
in  the  Carolinas,  see  Map,  p.  186),  were  occupied  without 
opposition.  Colonel  Tarleton,  an  able  but  cruel  cavalry-offi 
cer,  dashed  after  a  body  of  Americans  that  had  been  on  the 
march  to  Charleston  but  had  turned  back,  surprised  them  at 
Waxhaw  Creek,  and  cut  them  to  pieces  while  praying  for 
quarter,  so  that  "  Tarleton's  quarter  "  became  a  byword  for 
barbarity.  Many  now  accepted  the  offer  of  British  protec- 


178  THE   REVOLUTIONARY   WAR.  [l780 

tion,  on  condition  of  not  being  required  to  bear  arms  against 
their  country.  Clinton,  congratulating  himself  on  the  com 
plete  subjugation  of  Carolina,  sailed  for  New  York  with 
part  of  his  men,  leaving  Cornwallis  in  command  of  the  rest. 

Partisan  Warfare. — Cornwallis  was  neither  just  nor  wise. 
He  broke  faith  with  those  who  had  surrendered  and  accepted 
"  protections,"  imprisoning  some  of  the  chief  men  of  Charles 
ton,  and  seizing  their  property.  He  allowed  marauding 
parties  to  scour  the  country,  destroy  the  crops,  burn  the 
houses,  and  maltreat  the  inhabitants.  This  course  only 
roused  the  people  to  desperate  resistance.  So  when  Sumter 
and  Mar'ion,  Pickens  and  Clarke,  raised  their  standards  in 
the  backwoods  and  swamps,  numbers  who  had  been  deceived 
and  outraged  nocked  to  support  them.  Little  parties  were 
thus  formed,  which  in  time  became  thorns  in  the  side  of  the 
British. 

Ever  on  the  move,  proof  against  fatigue,  fearless  riders, 
unerring  riflemen,  though  perhaps  ragged,  hatless,  and  shoe 
less,  they  would  fall  on  exposed  posts,  cut  off  provision- 
trains,  strike  small  detachments,  break  up  tory  camps,  ap 
pearing  when  least  expected  and  vanishing  before  the  enemy 
could  strike  a  blow  in  return.  Cornwallis,  when  at  any 
strange  house  out  of  Charleston,  would  never  trust  himself 
in-doors,  but  always  sat  on  the  piazza,  watching  lest  some  of 
these  sharp  riders  should  swoop  down  upon  him.  They  re 
lied  on  the  enemy  for  their  supply  of  muskets  and  ammuni 
tion,  and,  stripping  the  neighboring  mills  of  saws,  had  them 
made  into  sabres  by  the  country  blacksmiths. 

Marion,  "the  Swamp  Fox,"  as  the  British  called  him, 
was  one  of  the  most  successful  of  the  partisan  leaders.  His 
"  ragged  regiment,"  at  first  made  up  of  but  twenty  men  and 
boys,  grew  to  be  a  formidable  element  in  the  war  for  freedom 
at  the  south.  He  would  start  from  his  swamp-camp  at  sun 
set,  and  keep  the  saddle  all  night.  His  men  never  knew 
where  they  were  going, — nor  when,  except  by  watching  the 


1780] 


MARIOX,  "THE  SWAMP  FOX. 


179 


cook  and  seeing  when  he  was  getting  ready  an  extra  supply 
of  their  poor  food.  Marion  was  small  in  stature  and  humane 
in  disposition,  but  would  brook  no  breach  of  discipline.  An 
incident  that  occurred  somewhat  later,  illustrates  his  de 
cision  of  character. 

A  major  and  a  captain  of  his  brigade  had  been  guilty  of 
plundering  the  house  of  a  whig,  and  had  carried  off  the 


owner's  sword,  the  major  unblushingly  wearing  it  at  his 
side.  The  fact  coming  to  Marion's  ears,  he  dispatched  an 
officer  to  demand  the  sword.  "If  the  general  wants  it," 
was  the  reply,  "  let  him  come  for  it  himself."  Marion  then 
sent  a  request  that  the  major  would  report  at  his  quarters, 
and  both  the  offenders  presented  themselves.  The  general 
was  surrounded  by  his  officers,  but  there  were  some  dis 
affected  men  on  whose  support  the  mutineers  depended. 


180  THE   REVOLUTIONARY    WAR.  [l780 

Marion  demanded  the  sword  ;  again  it  was  refused.  "  Ser 
geant  of  the  guard,"  said  Marion,  a  bring  me  a  file  of  men 
with  loaded  arms  and  fixed  bayonets."  There  was  dead 
silence,  for  it  was  felt  that  unless  one  or  the  other  gave  way 
a  bloody  scene  would  be  enacted.  The  stronger  will  con 
quered.  Just  as  the  guard  appeared,  the  mortified  major 
unbuckled  and  surrendered  the  sword,  and  he  was  afterward 
expelled  from  the  brigade. 

Sumter. — If  the  "  Swamp  Fox  "  was  noted  for  cunning, 
the  "  Carolina  Game-Cock,"  as  Sumter  was  called,  was  equal 
ly  distinguished  for  bravery.  With  600  men  attracted  to 
his  standard  by  some  advantages  gained  over  the  British 
and  tories  in  the  up-country,  in  August,  1780,  he  won  the 
battle  of  Hanging  Rock,  and  shortly  after  made  an  im 
portant  capture  of  clothes  and  stores  intended  for  the  Brit 
ish  army  at  Camden. 

Battle  of  Camden. — About  this  time  the  patriots  of  Caro 
lina  were  in  high  hopes,  for  Gen.  Gates,  with  an  army  or 
dered  to  the  south  at  the  time  of  Lincoln's  pressing  need  at 
Charleston,  was  approaching  Camden.  Cornwallis  hastened 
thither,  called  in  his  outposts,  and  made  ready  for  battle. 
Singularly  enough,  when  the  Americans  were  about  twelve 
miles  distant,  the  two  commanders  formed  each  the  design 
of  surprising  the  other  by  a  night  attack,  and  started  for 
that  purpose  about  the  same  hour.  At  two  o'clock,  on  the 
morning  of  August  16th,  they  met  near  Camden.  The  mili 
tia  gave  way  at  the  first  onset,  and  the  battle  resulted  in 
the  complete  rout  of  the  American  army,  with  heavy  loss, 
De  Kalb  being  among  those  who  fell.  Gates,  who  had 
thought  he  would  have  little  trouble  in  "  Burgoyning  Corn 
wallis,"  came  near  being  "  Burgoyned "  himself,  and  drew 
off  his  shattered  army  to  North  Carolina,  where  he  was  soon 
superseded  by  Gen.  Greene.  Greene  was  one  of  Washing 
ton's  most  trusted  officers  ;  Trenton,  Princeton,  Brandywine, 
and  Germantown,  had  witnessed  his  valor  and  skill. 


1780]  BATTLE   OF   KING^S   MOUNTAIN.  181 

To  crown  the  misfortunes  of  the  Americans,  Sumter,  two 
days  after  the  battle  of  Camden,  was  surprised  by  Tarleton 
at  Fishing  Creek.  The  spoils  he  had  taken  were  recaptured, 
and  his  division  was  broken  up.  For  a  time,  Marion  was  the 
sole  upholder  of  the  patriot  cause  in  South  Carolina. 

King's  Mountain. — The  Old  North  State,  however,  did 
riot  give  up  the  contest.  Her  intrepid  mountaineers,  with 
those  of  Virginia,  led  by  Colonels  Campbell,  Shelby,  and 
Sevier,  put  quite  a  different  aspect  on  affairs,  October  7, 
1780,  by  gaining  an  important  victory  at  King's  Moun 
tain,  in  South  Carolina,  just  south  of  the  state  line.  With 
the  loss  of  but  twenty  Americans,  1,125  British  and  tories 
were  here  defeated,  and  the  survivors  captured.  This  blow 
so  weakened  Cornwallis,  who  had  advanced  to  Charlotte, 
N.  C.,  that  he  fell  back,  and  encamped  between  the  Wa- 
teree  and  the  Broad. 

Movements  at  the  North. — An  expedition  into  New  Jer 
sey  in  June,  with  unimportant  results,  was  about  all  that 
was  attempted  by  the  British  at  the  north  in  1780.  Nor 
was  Washington's  army,  reduced  by  the  withdrawal  of  regi 
ments  for  the  southern  campaign  and  distressed  by  the  want 
of  provisions,  in  a  condition  to  assume  the  offensive.  A 
French  fleet  sent  over  through  the  influence  of  Lafayette, 
arrived  in  the  summer  at  Newport,  which  the  British  had 
evacuated  the  preceding  fall ;  and  Washington  earnestly 
desired  to  cooperate  with  it  in  an  attack  on  New  York. 
Before  he  could  get  ready,  however,  some  more  British  ships 
made  their  appearance,  and  the  French  were  blockaded  in 
Narragansett  Bay  by  a  superior  force. 

Arnold's  Treason. —  Meanwhile  a  traitor  was  at  work. 
The  strong  fort  at  West  Point  had  been  completed,  and  its 
command  given,  at  his  own  solicitation,  to  Benedict  Arnold, 
distinguished  for  his  exploits  at  Stillwater  and  elsewhere. 
While  in  command  at  Philadelphia,  Arnold  had  lived  ex 
travagantly,  contracted  debts,  used  his  official  position  for 


182  THE    REVOLUTIONARY    WAK.  [l78O 

purposes  of  private  gain,  quarrelled  with  the  local  authori 
ties,  and  so  mismanaged  affairs  generally  as  to  be  con 
demned  by  a  court-martial  to  receive  a  formal  reprimand. 
The  disgrace  rankled  in  his  bosom  ;  he  opened  a  corre 
spondence  with  the  British,  and  sought  the  command  at 
West  Point  for  the  express  purpose  of  betraying  it  into 
their  hands. 

Clinton,  who  longed  to  secure  this  key  to  the  fortresses 
on  the  Hudson,  gladly  offered  the  traitor  £10,000  and  the 
rank  of  general  in  the  British  service  for  the  betrayal  of  his 
trust.  The  details  of  the  nefarious  plot  were  settled  with 
Major  Andre,  adjutant-general  of  the  British  army,  who 
ascended  the  Hudson  in  the  sloop  Vulture  to  have  an  inter 
view  with  Arnold.  While  he  was  still  ashore,  within  the 
American  lines,  the  Vulture  was  fired  upon  and  obliged  to 
drop  lower  down  the  river.  Having,  therefore,  exchanged 
his  uniform  for  an  ordinary  dress  and  concealed  plans  of 
the  fortress  in  his  stockings,  Andre  crossed  the  Hudson 
and  proceeded  to  New  York  on  horseback. 

The  country  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  for  thirty  miles 
above  Manhattan  Island  was  called  the  Neutral  Ground. 
Not  included  within  the  lines  of  either  army,  it  was  the  prey 
of  lawless  forayers  known  as  Cow-boys  and  Skinners.  The 
Cow-boys  were  in  the  British  interest,  and  made  it  a  busi 
ness  to  rob  the  farmers  of  their  cattle,  which  found  a  ready 
sale  in  the  New  York  market.  The  Skinners,  loud  in  their 
professions  of  patriotism,  levied  on  tories  principally,  but 
were  not  above  plundering  any  one  when  a  fair  chance  of 
fered.  Andre  had  just  entered  this  disputed  ground,  when 
near  Tarrytown  he  was  stopped  by  three  patriots,  to  whom, 
in  the  belief  that  they  were  friends,  he  announced  himself 
as  a  British  officer.  Searching  his  person,  they  discovered 
the  papers  in  his  stockings  ;  and,  turning  a  deaf  ear  to  his 
offered  bribes,  they  carried  him  to  the  nearest  post.  He 
was  there  allowed  to  send  a  note  to  Arnold,  which  enabled 


1780] 


ARNOLD  S  TREASON. 


183 


the  traitor  to  escape 
in  a  boat  to  the  Vul 
ture.  Washington, 
returning  from  an 
interview  with  the 
French  commander, 
reached  the  spot  just 
after  Arnold's  flight. 
He  proposed  to  Clin 
ton  to  exchange  An 
dre  for  Arnold, — an 
offer  which,  though 
reluctantly,  the  Brit 
ish  general  felt  obliged 
to  decline.  Accord 
ingly,  the  accomplish 
ed  young  officer, 
found  guilty  as  a  spy, 
was  hanged  at  Tap- 
pan,  October  2,  1780. 
Benedict  Arnold 
received  his  reward; 
but  British  gold  was 
poor  pay  for  the  in 
famy  branded  on  his 
name.  He  afterward 
indulged  his  malice 

against     the     patriots  THE  LOWER  HUDSON. 

by  carrying  fire  and  sword  along  the  James  River,  Virginia, 
as  far  as  Richmond  (January,  1781),  and  by  applying  the 
torch  to  New  London,  Connecticut,  while  his  Hessians  and 
tories  were  massacring  the  garrison  of  Fort  Griswold,  op 
posite  the  last-named  town,  after  they  had  surrendered 
(September,  1781).  The  inhumanity  of  the  boy  who  had 
played  cruel  tricks  on  his  companions,  robbed  birds'  nests, 


184:  THE   REVOLUTIONARY   WAR.  [l781 

and  maimed  the  fledglings  that  he  might  enjoy  the  dis 
tress  of  the  parent-birds,  was  fully  developed  in  the  bar 
barity  of  the  baffled  traitor. 


GENERAL    REVIEW   AND    MAP    QUESTIONS. 

Recount  in  the  order  of  time  the  operations  of  the  Revolutionary  War 
in  1778  that  were  favorable  to  the  Americans.  Sum  up  those  in  which  the 
British  had  the  advantage. 

Do  the  same  with  the  operations  of  1779  :  with  those  of  1780.  What 
part  of  the  country  was  the  theatre  of  war  in  the  latter  year  ? 

Mention  in  the  order  of  time  all  the  operations  in  connection  with 
which  we  have  seen  Arnold  figure.  In  what  battles  had  Gates  the  chief 
command  ?  Where  did  Pulaski  fall  ?  De  Kalb  ?  Gen.  Mercer  ?  Gen.  War 
ren  ?  Gen.  Montgomery  ? 

Map,  p.  183. — How  is  West  Point  situated  ?  On  which  side  of  the 
river  was  Andre  taken  ?  In  what  state  was  he  executed  ?  What  battle 
took  place  five  days  after  his  execution  ?  Draw  a  map  of  the  Hudson  as 
far  north  as  Newburg,  showing  the  position  of  the  principal  forts  in  the 
Revolution. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

REVOLUTIONARY   WAR:    EVENTS  OF  1781. 

Mutinies. — The  commencement  of  the  year  1781  was 
marked  by  serious  troubles  in  the  American  army  quartered 
at  Morristown.  The  Pennsylvania  troops,  half  clothed  and 
unpaid,  insisted  that  their  term  of  enlistment  had  expired, 
and  demanded  their  discharge.  This  being  refused,  they 
threatened  their  commander,  Gen.  Wayne,  with  death  if  he 
opposed  them,  and  took  up  their  march  to  Philadelphia,  to 
obtain  their  rights  by  the  bayonet.  A  committee  of  Con 
gress  met  them  on  the  way  and  succeeded  in  satisfying 
them,  but  had  to  grant  them  the  discharge  demanded.  Two 
British  emissaries  who  had  been  sent  to  tamper  with  them, 


1781]  MOVEMENTS    IN    CAROLINA.  185 

were  given  up  and  hanged  as  spies.  In  a  few  days,  this 
mutinous  example  was  followed  by  some  of  the  New  Jersey 
troops  ;  but  Washington  in  this  case  suppressed  the  out 
break  by  force,  and  executed  two  of  the  ringleaders. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  Robert  Morris  came  to  the 
relief  of  Congress  with  his  fortune,  his  credit,  and  his  bank. 
The  cause  of  the  Union  was  also  strengthened  by  the  rati 
fication  of  Articles  of  Confederation  proposed  by  Congress. 
England,  meanwhile,  had  added  Spain  and  Holland  to  the 
number  of  her  enemies.  Yet  she  seemed  as  determined  as 
ever  to  reduce  her  rebellious  colonies,  large  appropriations 
being  made  by  Parliament  for  conducting  the  operations  of 
the  year. 

Movements  in  Carolina. — On  the  day  after  England  de 
clared  war  against  Holland,  Greene  took  command  of  the 
southern  army  (December  3,  1780).  Though  he  found  it 
ragged  and  sadly  disorganized,  he  lost  no  time  in  commenc 
ing  active  operations.  Marion  and  Sumter  were  at  their 
old  game,  keeping  the  British  in  a  ferment ;  Tarleton  was 
as  active  as  ever  ;  whigs  and  tories  were  waylaying,  robbing, 
and  killing  each  other  ;  savage  violence  was  rife  throughout 
South  Carolina. 

The  Cowpens, — To  threaten  the  British  rear  and  keep 
down  the  tories  in  that  direction,  Greene  placed  half  his 
army  under  Morgan  (one  of  the  heroes  of  Stillwater  and 
Monmouth),  and  dispatched  him  to  the  neighborhood  of  the 
Cowpens.  At  this  place,  January  17,  1781,  took  place  a  des 
perate  encounter  between  Morgan  and  Tarleton,  who  had 
been  sent  in  search  of  him.  The  Americans  stootl  firm 
against  the  fiery  charges  of  the  British  dragoons,  which  had 
so  often  proved  fatal  to  their  countrymen,  and  with  small 
loss  on  their  side  gained  a  decisive  victory.  Five  hundred 
prisoners,  with  horses,  baggage-wagons,  and  much-needed 
stores,  were  taken. 

Tarleton  himself  narrowly  escaped  capture  by   Colonel 


186 


THE   REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 


[1781 


William  Washington,  by  whom  he  was  wounded  in  a  per 
sonal  encounter  while  flying  from  the  field.    There  was  some 

point  in  the  re- 


A 


THE 

SOUTHERN 
CAMPA IGN 

I78O-8I 


con- 

temptuously  re 
marked  that  he 
would  like  to 
see  this  Colonel 
Washington. 
"If  you  had 
looked  behind 
you  at  the  Cow- 
pens,  colonel," 
was  her  sig 
nificant  reply, 
"you  would 
have  had  that 
pleasure." 

Morgan  and  Greene's  Retreat. — Morgan  knew  that  Corn 
wallis,  who  was  but  twenty-five  miles  off  with  the  main 
army,  would  soon  be  at  his  heels,  and  rapidly  made  for  the 
Catawba.  Encumbered  by  his  spoils,  he  had  crossed  it  but 
two  hours,  when  the  British  commander,  who  had  destroyed 
his  unnecessary  baggage  and  hurried  on  by  forced  marches, 
reached  the  ford.  As  it  was  near  dark,  Cornwallis  post 
poned  crossing  till  morning ;  but  during  the  night  a  heavy 
rain  set  in,  which  swelled  the  stream  so  that  it  could  not  be 
forded  for  two  days.  This  gave  Morgan  an  opportunity  to 
make  a  safe  disposition  of  his  prisoners,  and  enabled  Gen. 
Greene,  who  had  started  almost  alone  about  the  same  time 
as  Cornwallis,  to  join  the  retreating  division  and  direct  its 
movements. 


tort  of  a  whig 
lady,  before 
\vxiom  -L  ciriG T/on. 


1781]  MORGAN    AND    GREENEJS    RETREAT.  1ST 

Cornwallis  having  at  length  accomplished  the  passage, 
another  race  began  for  the  Yadkin.  The  Americans  had 
just  crossed,  when  again  a  providential  rain  raised  the  river, 
and  obliged  Cornwallis  to  deviate  from  the  direct  course  and 
take  a  ford  higher  up.  Among  the  friends  of  freedom  in 
Virginia  the  flying  Americans  would  be  safe,  and  to  the 
fords  of  the  Dan  on  the  borders  of  that  state  pursued  and 
pursuers  now  pressed  with  all  speed. 

Half-way  there,  at  Guilford  (ffhiFford)  Court-House, 
the  Americans  effected  a  junction  with  that  portion  of  the 
army  which  Greene  had  left  behind  ;  still  they  were  in  no 
condition  to  give  battle,  and  the  retreat  was  continued.  A 
light  corps  under  Colonel  Williams  of  Maryland,  and  Lee, 
the  famous  "  Light-horse  Harry  "  whose  Legion  earned  glory 
here  and  on  many  a  well-fought  field,  covered  the  rear  of 
the  Americans  till  the  main  body  had  crossed  the  long- 
wished-for  Dan.  Cornwallis  came  up  just  too  late  ;  the 
river  was  too  deep  to  ford,  the  boats  had  been  secured  by 
the  Americans.  A  third  time  foiled,  he  abandoned  the  pur 
suit. 

Battle  of  Guilford  Court-House. — After  receiving  some 
re-enforcements  of  militia,  Greene  again  took  the  field. 
Provisions  were  so  scarce  that  sometimes  his  men  were 
obliged  to  appease  their  hunger  with  frogs  from  the  swamps. 
Only  now  arid  then  would  he  receive  a  meagre  supply  of 
money  to  meet  his  most  pressing  wants.  His  ammunition 
had  to  be  doled  out  with  the  strictest  economy.  Laboring 
under  these  disadvantages,  no  wonder  that  in  a  pitched 
battle  with  Cornwallis  at  Guilford  Court-House  (March  15, 
1781),  although  greatly  superior  to  the  enemy  in  numbers, 
he  was  badly  defeated,  losing  all  his  artillery,  and  many  of 
the  militia  by  desertion.  Cornwallis,  however,  found  his 
army  so  much  diminished  after  his  victory,  that  he  imme 
diately  fell  back  toward  the  coast.  The  vigilant  Greene, 
defeated  but  not  crushed,  was  soon  on  his  track,  but  failing 


188  THE   REVOLUTIONARY   WAR.  [l781 

to  bring  him  to  an  engagement  pushed  on  into  South  Caro 
lina  ;  while  his  adversary  improved  the  opportunity  to  move 
to  the  north,  and  join  a  corps  of  British  troops  from  New 
York  that  had  been  operating  in  Virginia. 

Hob'kirk's  HilL — The  British  held  a  number  of  scattered 
posts  in  South  Carolina,  but  their  main  body  lay  at  Camden 
under  Lord  Rawdon.  For  this  point  Greene  aimed.  Too 
weak  to  attack  the  enemy's  intrenchments,  he  encamped 
in  the  immediate  neighborhood,  at  Hobkirk's  Hill.  Here, 
April  25th,  he  was  unexpectedly  attacked  by  Rawdon.  Vic 
tory,  which  for  a  time  seemed  within  the  grasp  of  the  Amer 
icans,  at  last  declared  for  the  British,  and  Greene  was  driven 
several  miles  from  his  position.  Lord  Rawdon,  though  suc 
cessful,  found  it  necessary  to  fall  back  from  Camden. 

Meanwhile  Marion  and  Sumter,  Lee  and  Pickens,  allowed 
the  enemy  no  rest  ;  one  by  one,  the  British  outposts  fell. 
Nor  were  the  women  of  Carolina  wanting  in  devotion  to 
their  country.  Mrs.  Motte  brought  "Light-horse  Harry" 
a  bow,  that  with  burning  arrows  he  might  fire  the  roof  of 
her  fine  dwelling  and  dislodge  the  enemy  who  had  made  it 
their  stronghold.  And  so  we  read  of  women  galloping  by 
night  to  warn  their  countrymen  of  meditated  attacks  by 
tories,  or  carrying  secret  dispatches  through  perils  that 
would  have  appalled  less  heroic  hearts. 

Siege  of  Ninety-Six. — A  garrispn  of  tories  still  held 
Ninety-Six,  and  to  this  post  Greene  himself,  after  his  dis 
comfiture  at  Hobkirk's  Hill,  laid  siege  (May  22d).  The 
approach  of  Rawdon,  who  had  been  re-enforced  at  Charles 
ton  with  fresh  regiments  from  Ireland,  drove  the  Americans 
from  the  works  just  as  the  beleaguered  garrison,  which  had 
made  a  most  gallant  defence,  was  on  the  point  of  surrender 
ing.  Rawdon  followed  Greene  a  little  way,  but  soon  turned 
back,  abandoned  Ninety-Six,  and  slowly  retired  toward 
Charleston,  Greene  hanging  on  his  rear. 

Battle  of  Eutaw  Springs. — During  the  hot  summer,  the 


1781] 


BATTLE    OF   EUTAW    SPEIXGS. 


189 


hostile  armies  lay  resting  not  many  miles  apart,  active  opera 
tions  being  confined  to  the  partisan  corps.  Lord  Rawdon 
now  sailed  for  England,  leaving  the  chief  command  in  Caro 
lina  to  Colonel  Stuart.  The  weather  becoming  cooler,  Greene 
crossed  the  rivers  Wateree  and  Congaree,  and  approached 
Eutaw  Springs,  where  Stuart  waited  to  give  him  battle.  The 
field  was  hotly  contested  (September  8th),  and  seemed  at 
one  time  to  belong  to  the  Americans  ;  but  the  British  ral 
lied,  and  falling  on  the  militia,  who  thinking  the  day  was 
gained  were  dispersed  among  the  enemy's  stores,  threw  them 
into  confusion  and  finally  won  the  battle.  The  loss  on  both 
sides  was  heavy.  Stuart  was  so  weakened  that  he  could  not 
hold  his  position,  and  the  next  day  saw  him  in  full  retreat 
toward  Charleston.  Thus  closed  the  campaign  in  Carolina. 
Their  victories  had  done  the  British  little  good.  Through 
the  efforts  of  Gen.  Greene,  whom  defeat  seemed  only  to 
inspire  with  fresh  energy,  almost  the  whole  of  Carolina  and 
Georgia  had  been  wrested  from  the  enemy  ;  only  Charles 
ton  and  Savannah,  with  the  country  immediately  adjacent, 
remained  in  their  possession. 
Operations  in  Virginia.— 
When  Cornwallis,  after  the 
battle  of  Guilford  Court- 
House,  made  for  Virginia,  it 
was  to  effect  a  junction  with 
a  British  army  under  Arnold 
and  Phillips,  which  had  for  § 
some  time  been  ravaging  the  | 
country.  Lafayette  had  been 
dispatched  to  hold  the  enemy 
in  check,  but  owing  to  the  in 
sufficiency  of  his  force  he  had 
been  but  partially  successful. 
Yet  here,  as  throughout  the 
war,  he  was  prudent,  skillful,  brave,  and  above  all  gener- 


190  THE   REVOLUTIONARY   WAR.  [lT81 

ous  to  his  men,  supplying  their  wants  from  his  own  purse. 
On  many  fields  this  true  friend  of  America  had  done  good 
service  : — at  Brandy  wine,  where  he  was  wounded  : — at  Bar 
ren  Hill,  near  Valley  Forge,  where  his  strategy  saved  a  large 
division  from  capture  : — at  Monmouth,  where  his  vigorous 
attack  might  have  decided  the  battle,  but  for  Lee's  untimely 
order  to  retreat : — at  the  siege  of  Newport,  when  he  rode 
seventy  miles  in  six  and  a  half  hours,  to  be  present  at  the 
expected  action  : — and  not  the  least  at  Paris,  where  his  per 
suasions  induced  the  government  to  send  over  material  aid, 
and  where  it  was  said  to  be  ' fortunate  that  Lafayette  did 
not  take  it  into  his  head  to  strip  the  palace  of  its  furniture 
for  his  dear  America,  for  that  the  king  would  have  been 
unable  to  refuse  him.' 

Lafayette  and  Cornwallis  were  now  to  measure  swords. 
The  British  general,  after  assuming  command  in  Virginia, 
confident  of  catching  "  the  boy,"  pursued  him  closely  for 
some  distance  to  the  north,  till  he  was  re-enforced  by  Gen. 
Wayne,  and  then  it  was  Lafayette's  turn.  Not  risking  a 
pitched  battle,  but  disconcerting  the  enemy's  plans  and  con 
stantly  harassing  them  as  they  fell  back,  he  followed  Corn 
wallis  successively  to  Richmond,  Williamsburg,  and  James 
town.  When  in  September  the  British  general  settled  down 
at  Yorktown  (see  Map,  p.  273)  and  fortified  himself  there, 
Lafayette  took  a  position  on  the  peninsula  a  few  miles  off, 
anxiously  waiting  for  the  arrival  of  additional  forces. 

Siege  of  Yorktown. — He  had  not  long  to  wait.  Wash 
ington,  and  Rochambeau  (ro-shong-bo'),  the  commander  of 
the  French  troops  at  the  north,  who  had  been  threatening 
New  York,  quietly  withdrew  their  men  and  were  far  on  their 
way  to  Virginia  before  Clinton  was  aware  of  their  design. 
Pursuit  would  have  been  useless.  Cornwallis  could  receive 
no  succor  by  land,  and  the  English  ships  sent  to  his  relief 
were  turned  back  at  the  entrance  to  the  Chesapeake  by  a 
strong  French  fleet  that  had  already  arrived.  The  allied 


1781] 


SURRENDER   OF   CORNWALLIS. 


191 


army,  numbering  with  the 
militia  16,000  men,  took  their 
positions,  and  on  the  last  day 
of  September  the  investment 
of  Yorktown  was  complete. 
Closer  and  closer  the  lines  of  the  allies  were  brought  ; 
more  and  more  destructive  was  their  fire.  The  outworks  of 
the  British  were  stormed  and  carried  ;  their  ships  moored 
near  the  town  were  burned  ;  a  desperate  sortie  was  re 
pulsed  ;  a  bold  attempt  at  flight  by  crossing  to  Gloucester 
(glos'ter)  at  night  and  cutting  a  passage  through  the  French 
lines  at  that  point,  was  defeated  by  a  violent  storm  ;  further 
resistance  was  hopeless,  and  Cornwallis  proposed  to  surren 
der.  The  terms  were  arranged  at  Moore's  house,  on  the 
York  River,  near  the  American  lines  ;  and  on  the  19th  of 
October  the  SURRENDER  OF  YORKTOWN  took  place.  Over 
7,000  men  laid  down  their  arms,  in  the  presence  of  exulting 
thousands  gathered  from  the  country  around.  That  same 


192  THE   REVOLUTIONARY   WAR.  [l781 

day  the  slow  Clinton  sailed  from  New  York  to  raise  the 
siege,  with  a  great  fleet  and  an  army  equal  to  Cornwallis's, — 
but  only  to  sail  back  again,  on  hearing  off  the  coast  of  Vir 
ginia  of  what  had  happened. 

King  George  Third's  prime-minister  received  the  news 
of  Cornwallis's  surrender  "as  he  would  have  received  a 
cannon-ball  in  his  breast."  But  to  the  struggling  patriots 
of  America  it  brought  new  life.  They  felt  that  now  the 
days  of  trial  were  numbered.  At  midnight  an  officer  from 
Washington's  camp  galloped  through  the  streets  of  Phila 
delphia,  and  roused  the  president  of  Congress  to  listen  to 
the  welcome  news.  The  watchmen  caught  it  up,  and  as 
they  paced  their  rounds  cried  out,  "  Cornwallis  is  taken  !  " 
Soon  the  streets  were  filled  ;  the  bells  rang  ;  and  many  a 
knee  bent  in  fervent  thanksgiving. 

GENERAL    REVIEW    AND    MAP    QUESTIONS. 

Sum  up  the  events  of  the  Revolutionary  War  in  1781,  that  were  favor 
able  to  the  British  arms.  Recount  those  in  which  the  Americans  had  the 
advantage.  Compare  the  circumstances  that  brought  about  Burgoyne's 
capture  with  those  that  led  to  Cornwallis's  surrender. 

Mention  the  battles  in  which  the  following  officers  took  part,  and  what 
ever  else  you  can  remember  about  them : — GREENE  ;  MORGAN  ;  "  THE  SWAMP 
Fox ; "  "  THE  CAROLINA  GAME-COCK  ; "  LAFAYETTE  ;  CORNWALLIS  ;  TARLETON. 
What  French  officers  have  been  mentioned  as  taking  part  in  the  Revolu 
tionary  War,  and  where  did  they  figure  ? 

Continue  the  CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD,  by  filling  in  the  principal  events 
for  the  years  1775,  1776,  1777,  1778,  1779,  and  1780. 

Map,  p.  186. — Mention  the  principal  Revolutionary  battle-fields  in 
South  Carolina.  In  North  Carolina.  What  rivers  did  Morgan  cross  in  his 
retreat  from  the  Cowpens  to  Virginia  ?  How  was  Camden  situated  ?  Guil- 
ford  Court-House  ?  Ninety-Six?  Charlotte?  For  what  event  in  1775  is 
Charlotte  memorable? 

Map,  p.  273. — How  is  Yorktown  situated  ?  What  place  is  opposite 
to  it  ?  In  what  direction  from  Yorktown  is  Williamsburg  ?  What  was  the 
first  capital  of  Virginia  ?  The  second  ?  The  present  capital  ?  When  was 
Williamsburg  made  the  seat  of  government  ?  When,  Richmond  ?  In  1779. 


1782]  CLOSE   OF   THE   REVOLUTION.  193 


CHAPTER   XXIV. 

CLOSE   OF    THE   REVOLUTIONARY    WAR.— FORMA 
TION  OF  THE  CONSTITUTION. 

Cessation  of  Hostilities. — After  the  surrender  at  York- 
town  there  was  but  little  fighting.  The  British  still  held 
New  York,  Charleston,  and  Savannah,  but  were  in  no  con 
dition  to  make  any  aggressive  movement.  Gen.  Greene 
took  a  position  near  Charleston,  ready  to  fall  upon  it  if  op 
portunity  offered.  In  like  manner,  Wayne  watched  Savan 
nah,  and  Washington  kept  his  eye  on  Clinton's  army  in 
New  York. 

George  III.  was  obstinate  and  weak-minded  ;  by  the  ad 
vice  of  his  ministers,  he  would  have  sent  over  another  army 
to  America.  But  the  British  people,  on  whom  the  cost 
would  have  fallen  and  who  had  never  favored  the  war,  made 
themselves  heard.  Burke  and  Fox  raised  their  voices  in 
Parliament ;  and  in  March,  1782,  the  House  of  Commons 
formally  declared  that  it  would  consider  as  public  enemies 
all  those  who  should  advise  a  further  prosecution  of  the  war. 
So  Lord  North  gave  place  to  another  minister  who  was  favor 
able  to  peace.  Gen.  Clinton  was  superseded,  and  hostilities 
ceased.  In  July,  the  stars  and  stripes,  waving  over  Savan 
nah,  announced  that  the  enemy  had  departed  from  that  city  ; 
in  December,  they  took  leave  of  Charleston,  Gen.  Greene 
marching  in  to  the  tune  of  "  Yankee  Doodle." 

Peace. — Commissioners  met  at  Paris  to  arrange  the  terms 
of  peace,  and  on  the  3d  of  September,  1783,  a  treaty  was 
signed  by  which  THE  INDEPENDENCE  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 
WAS  ACKNOWLEDGED  —  the  Mississippi  being  fixed  as  its 
boundary  on  the  west,  and  the  Great  Lakes  on  the  north. 
At  the  same  time  England  made  peace  with  France,  Holland, 
and  Spain,  and  ceded  back  to  the  last-named  power  Florida, 
9 


THE.  VJ XV -LUX-TV  2\.±3 

UNITED  STATES 
1783 


1783]  EVACUATION   OF   NEW   YORK.  195 

which  had  been  a  British  possession  for  twenty  years.  Lou 
isiana,  also,  belonged  to  Spain  at  this  time  and  until  1800, 
when  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  France.  The  Map  on  the 
opposite  page  shows  the  territory  of  the  United  States  at 
the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War. 

New  York,  the  last  place  remaining  to  the  British,  was 
evacuated  November  25,  1783.  Washington,  Governor 
George  Clinton,  and  the  American  troops  under  Gen.  Knox 
— the  efficient  head  of  the  artillery  corps,  who  had  been  with 
Washington  in  every  battle  he  had  fought — immediately 
took  possession.  At  Fort  George,  which  fronted  the  Bowling 
Green  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city,  the  departing  British 
had  left  their  flag  nailed  to  its  staff,  removed  the  cleats,  and 
greased  the  pole  to  prevent  its  being  ascended.  But  hardly 
were  they  out  of  the  fort,  when  a  sailor-boy  was  on  his  way 
up  the  flag-staff,  and  soon  the  ensign  of  Britain  gave  place 
to  the  flying  colors  of  the  infant  republic. 

Trouble  in  the  Camp, — Meanwhile,  though  danger  from 
the  British  was  over,  there  had  been  danger  of  a  different 
sort.  The  beginning  of  the  year  1782  found  the  finances  of 
the  country  in  a  terrible  condition  ;  there  was  not  a  dollar 
to  pay  the  army.  The  states  would  not,  or  could  not,  raise 
the  amounts  they  were  called  on  to  contribute  ;  and  Con 
gress  had  no  power  to  compel  them  to  do  so.  Threats  of 
violence  arose  in  the  camp  at  Newburg  ;  and,  had  it  not  been 
for  Washington's  influence,  both  officers  and  men  would  have 
proceeded  to  extremities  to  obtain  their  dues.  Nothing 
would  have  been  easier  than  for  Washington  at  this  crisis  to 
have  made  himself  a  king,  according  to  the  suggestions  of  a 
letter  from  one  of  his  dissatisfied  officers  ;  but  he  indignant 
ly  rejected  the  proposal.  Afterward,  by  meeting  the  mal 
contents  and  laying  before  them  an  address  full  of  noble 
sentiments,  he  defeated  an  insidious  attempt  to  array  them 
against  the  civil  authorities. 

Disbanding  the  Army.— In  November,  1783,  the  army 


196  CLOSE   OF   THE   REVOLUTION.  [l783 

was  disbanded.  Congress  did  all  in  its  power  to  meet  its 
obligations  to  the  brave  men  who  had  suffered  and  bled  for 
their  country,  but  that  all  was  very  little.  Washington  took 
leave  of  his  brother-officers,  assembled  at  his  quarters  in  New 
York.  Tears  filled  every  eye,  as  their  beloved  commander 
grasped  them  by  the  hand  and  embraced  them  in  turn.  On 
the  23d  of  December,  at  Annapolis,  where  Congress  was  in 
session,  he  surrendered  his  commission,  and  retired  to 
Mount  Vernon,  accompanied  by  the  blessings  of  a  grateful 
nation  and  crowned  with  the  greatest  glory  ever  achieved 
by  man. 

Articles  of  Confederation, — The  United  States  now  con 
sisted  of  thirteen  republics,  whose  local  affairs  were  man 
aged  by  governors  and  assemblies  of  delegates  chosen  by 
the  people.  But  separately  the  states  were  small  and  weak, 
and  no  sufficient  bond  united  them  in  one  nation  to  be  feared 
and  respected  abroad.  Articles  of  Confederation  had,  indeed, 
been  ratified  by  the  states  during  the  war, — by  some  of  them, 
jealous  of  their  rights,  with  great  reluctance.  But  these 
Articles,  failing  to  clothe  Congress  with  power  to  enforce 
its  recommendations  and  particularly  to  lay  taxes,  were  now 
found  wholly  inadequate.  Without  the  means  of  raising 
money,  Congress  could  neither  pay  its  debts  to  soldiers  and 
citizens  at  home,  nor  discharge  its  obligations  to  foreign  na 
tions  from  whom  loans  had  been  received.  There  was  dan 
ger  of  anarchy.  In  more  than  one  place  the  payment  of 
taxes  was  resisted  ;  and  in  Massachusetts  in  1787,  Shays's 
Rebellion,  as  it  was  called,  had  to  be  put  down  by  Gen.  Lin 
coln  and  a  body  of  militia. 

Formation  of  a  Constitution, — It  was  clear  that  a  stronger 
government  and  a  closer  union  among  the  states  were  needed. 
To  meet  these  wants  by  remodelling  the  Articles  of  Confed 
eration  or  framing  a  new  instrument  to  take  their  place,  a 
convention  in  which  the  several  states  were  represented  by 
some  of  their  ablest  men,  assembled  at  Philadelphia,  in  May, 


1787]  THE   CONSTITUTION.  197 

1787.  Washington  was  chosen  president.  At  the  sugges 
tion  of  Dr.  Franklin,  the  daily  sessions  were  opened  with 
prayer.  "  If  a  sparrow,"  he  said,  "can  not  fall  to  the  ground 
without  God's  notice,  is  it  possible  that  an  empire  can  rise 
without  his  aid  ?  " 

The  convention  sat  four  months  ;  the  fruit  of  its  labors 
was  THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  under  which 
our  government  is  still  administered.  Offered  to  the  states 
for  their  ratification,  the  new  instrument  was  warmly  sup 
ported  by  the  Federalists,  who  favored  a  strong  central 
government,  while  it  was  violently  opposed  by  the  advocates 
of  states'-rights,  who  were  known  as  Anti-federalists.  In 
June,  1788,  it  had  received  the  sanction  of  nine  states,  which 
was  necessary  to  give  it  force  ;  and  by  the  summer  of  1790 
it  had  been  adopted  by  the  rest. 

Provisions  of  the  Constitution. — The  Constitution  vests 
the  legislative,  or  law-making,  power  in  a  Congress,  consist 
ing  of  a  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives.  The  Senate 
is  composed  of  two  members  from  each  state,  who  hold  office 
for  six  years  ;  the  House  of  Representatives,  of  members 
chosen  by  the  people  every  second  year.  The  executive,  or 
law-enforcing,  power  is  vested  in  a  President,  selected  every 
four  years  by  Electors  chosen  by  the  people.  A  Vice-Presi- 
dent,  who  presides  in  the  Senate  and  takes  the  place  of  the 
president  in  case  of  the  death  or  disability  of  the  latter,  is 
elected  in  the  same  way.  To  become  a  law,  a  bill  must  be 
passed  by  both  houses  of  Congress  and  be  signed  by  the 
president ;  if  he  returns  it  without  his  signature,  it  takes 
effect  if  passed  by  two-thirds  of  both  houses. — For  further 
details  refer  to  the  Constitution  itself,  which,  with  a  few 
Amendments  subsequently  passed  from  time  to  time,  is  ap 
pended  to  this  History. 

The  "  Territory  North-west  of  the  Ohio  "  was  organized 
by  Congress  in  1787,  out  of  unsettled  lands  ceded  by  several 
of  the  states  to  the  general  government.  It  embraced  the 


198  THE   REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 

region  between  the  Ohio  and  the  Great  Lakes,  Pennsylvania 
and  the  Mississippi  (see  Map,  p.  194). 

ABSTRACT   OF   THE    PRINCIPAL   EVENTS    OF   THE   REVO 
LUTIONARY  WAR. 

As  a  review,  mention  in  order  the  events  of  each  year,  omitting  the 
day  of  the  month,  which  is  given  for  purposes  of  reference  merely.  Differ- 
ent  pupils  may  then  take  the  events  in  turn,  and  enlarge  on  them  without 
being  questioned. 

177B.  Battle  of  Lexington,  Apr.  19,  commences  the  Revolutionary  War. 
Battle  of  Concord.  Capture  of  Ticonderoga  by  Ethan  Allen,  May 
10.  Second  Continental  Congress  meets,  May  10.  Capture  of 
Crown  Point  by  Seth  Warner,  May  12.  First  declaration  of  in 
dependence,  Charlotte,  N.  C.,  May  21.  Election  of  Washington  as 
commander-in-chief,  June  15.  Battle  of  Bunker  (Breed's)  Hill, 
June  17.  American  invasion  of  Canada ;  Montreal  taken ;  Quebec 
assaulted  unsuccessfully  and  Montgomery  slain,  Dec.  31. 
1  776.  Hessians  hired  by  the  British.  Evacuation  of  Boston  by  the  Brit 
ish,  March  17.  Repulse  of  the  British  at  Charleston,  June  28. 
DECLARATION  OP  INDEPENDENCE,  July  4.  Battle  of  Long  Island, 
Aug.  27.  British  take  possession  of  New  York  City.  Battle  of 
White  Plains,  Oct.  28.  Cherokee  War.  Capture  of  Forts  Wash 
ington  and  Lee  by  the  British.  British  take  Newport.  Washing 
ton's  retreat  across  New  Jersey.  Battle  of  Trenton,  Dec.  26. 

1777.  Battle  of  Princeton,  Jan.  3.     New  Jersey  mostly  recovered  by  the 
Americans.     Arrival  of  Lafayette.     Adoption  of  a  national  flag, 
June  14.     Burgoyne's  campaign ;  capture  of  Ticonderoga,  July  6. 
Siege  of  Fort  Schuyler.     Battle  of  Oriskany,  Aug.  6.     Battle  of 
Bennington,  Aug.  16.    Battle  of  Brandywine,  Sept.  11.    First  bat 
tle  of  Stillwater,  Sept.  19.     British  take  possession  of  Philadel 
phia,  Sept.  26.     Battle  of  Germantown,  Oct.  4.     Second  battle 
of  Stillwater,  Oct.  7.     Burgoyne's  surrender  at  Saratoga,  Oct.  17. 
Capture  of  Forts  Mercer  and  Mifflin  by  the  British.    Americans  go 
into  winter-quarters  at  Valley  Forge. 

1778.  Recognition  by  France  of  the  independence  of  the  U.  S.,  Feb.  6. 
Evacuation  of  Philadelphia  by  the  British,  June  18.     Battle  of 
Monmouth,  June  28.     Massacre  of  Wyoming.     Arrival  of  French 
fleet.     Unsuccessful  siege  of  Newport  by  the  Americans.     Mas 
sacre  of  Cherry  Valley.     Exploits  of  Paul  Jones.     Capture  of 
Savannah  by  the  British,  Dec.  29. 


ABSTRACT   OF  EVENTS.  199 

1779.  Tryon's  raids  in  Connecticut.  Matthews's  raid  in  Virginia.  Capt 
ure  of  Stony  and  Verplanck's  Point  by  the  British.  Recapture  of 
Stony  Point  by  Wayne,  July  16.  Sullivan's  Indian  Expedition. 
Repulse  of  the  Americans  at  Savannah,  Oct.  9. 

1  78O.  Financial  straits.  Surrender  of  Charleston  to  the  British,  May  12. 
Surprise  of  Americans  at  Waxhaw  Creek,  May  29.  Arrival  of 
French  fleet.  Partisan  warfare  in  Carolina.  Battle  of  Rocky 
Mount,  July  30.  Battle  of  Hanging  Rock,  Aug.  6.  Battle  of 
Camden,  Aug.  16.  Battle  of  Fishing '  Creek,  Aug.  18.  Arnold's 
treason  discovered ;  Andre's  execution,  Oct.  2.  Battle  of  King's 
Mountain,  Oct.  7. 

1781.  Mutinies  in  the  American  camp.     Establishment  of  the  Bank  of 
North  America.     Ratification  of  the  Articles  of  Confederation. 
Arnold's  raid  in  Virginia.     Battle  of  the  Cowpens,  Jan.  17.     Mor 
gan  and  Greene's  retreat.     Battle  of  Guilford  C.  H.,  March  15. 
Battle  of  Hobkirk's  Hill,  Apr.  25.     Siege  of  Ninety-Six.     Corn- 
wallis  and  Lafayette  in  Virginia.    Arnold  ravages  New  London ; 
massacre  at  Fort  Griswold.     Battle  of  Eutaw,  Sept.  8.     Siege  of 
Yorktown.     Surrender  of  Cornwallis,  Oct.  19. 

1782.  Evacuation  of  Savannah  and  Charleston  by  the  British. 

1783.  PEACE  with  Great  Britain,  Sept.  3.     Disbanding  of  the  American 
army,  Nov.  3.     Evacuation  of  New  York  by  the  British,  Nov.  25. 
Washington  resigns  his  commission,  Dec.  23. 


CHAPTER    XXV. 

THE  EARLY  PRESIDENTS. 

The  First  President. — Soon  after  the  Constitution  had 
been  approved  by  the  requisite  number  of  states,  an  election 
was  held  to  fill  the  presidency  and  vice-presidency.  For 
the  former  office,  Washington  was  the  unanimous  choice  ; 
for  vice-president,  John  Adams  was  selected.  Adams  had 
served  his  country  faithfully  in  the  Continental  Congress, 
had  represented  her  at  the  court  of  Holland,  and  there  ob 
tained  a  loan  when  it  was  greatly  needed.  He  had  been 
one  of  the  commissioners  to  negotiate  the  treaty  of  peace 


200 


THE    EARLY    PRESIDENTS. 


[1789 


FEDEBAL  HALL,  NEW  YORK. 


with  Great  Britain,  and  the  first  minister  of  the   United 

States    to    that 
country. 

Washington 
was  inaugurated 
on  the  30th  of 
April,  1789,  at 
Federal  Hall,  in 
the  city  of  New 
York,  on  the  site 
of  the  present 
Sub -treasury 
building.  Here 
too  was  organized 
the  Federal  Congress,  which  was  to  take  the  place  of  the 
old  Continental  Congress  that  had  carried  the  nation  suc 
cessfully  through  the  eight  years'  war. 

WASHINGTON'S  ADMINISTRATION,  1789-1797. 

The  Cabinet. — One  of  the  first  measures  of  Congress  was 
to  create  three  executive  departments,  the  heads  of  which 
were  to  be  known  respectively  as  the  Secretary  of  State, 
the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  and  the  Secretary  of  War. 
These  officers  were  to  be  appointed  by  the  president,  and 
to  constitute  his  cabinet,  or  council.  To  the  three  depart 
ments  just  named,  Washington  appointed  Thomas  Jefferson 
of  Virginia,  who  had  for  four  years  represented  the  United 
States  at  the  French  court, — Alexander  Hamilton,  of  New 
York, — and  Gen.  Knox,  his  tried  army-friend.  John  Jay,  of 
New  York,  who  had  been  one  of  the  ablest  defenders  of 
the  Constitution,  was  made  Chief-Justice. 

Congress  has  since  created  two  new  departments,  the 
Navy  and  the  Interior ;  the  heads  of  which,  together  with 
the  Attorney-General  and  the  Postmaster-General,  now 
have  seats  in  the  cabinet. 


1789] 


HAMILTON  8   FINANCIAL   MEASURES. 


201 


Financial  Measures, — To  Secretary  Hamilton  was  com 
mitted  the  most  difficult  task, — that  of  providing  ways  and 
means,  at  a  time  when  the  nation  had  no  credit  and  was 
heavily  in  debt.  His  policy  was  just  and  far-sighted. 
Debts  incurred  in  carrying  on  the  war  by  the  general  gov 
ernment  as  well  as  individual  states,  were  acknowledged  to 
the  amount  of  $80,000,000,  and  measures  taken  for  their 
gradual  payment.  A  national  bank,  to  be  located  at  Phila 
delphia,  was  chartered  for  twenty  years  (1791).  Domestic 
manufactures  were  encouraged,  and  a  revenue  secured,  by 
laying  duties  on  imported  goods.  These  measures  restored 
the  public  credit,  and  business  promptly  revived.  Whether 
as  financier  for  the  young  republic,  as  defender  of  the  Con 
stitution  while  its  adoption  was  yet  doubtful,  or  as  aid,  sec 
retary,  and  confidant  of  Washington  during  the  war,  Hamil 
ton  never  failed  to  render  faithful  service  to  his  country. 

The  First  Census  of  the  United  States  was  taken  in  1790. 
It  showed  the  total  population  to  be  a  little  short  of  four 
millions.  The  city 


of  New  York  at  this 
time  contained  but 
33,000  inhabitants  ; 
Philadelphia,  the 
second  city  of  the 
Union,  not  so  many 
by  nearly  5,000; 
while  the  freehold 
ers,  or  land-owners, 
of  Brooklyn,  which 
now  ranks  third,  were 
less  than  100  in  num 
ber.  Brooklyn  was 
connected  with  New 

York    by    a    ferry,  FULTON  FKK.Y,  BKOOKLYN,  IN  1T90. 

which  occupied  the  site  of  the  present  Fulton  Ferry,  but 


202  WASHINGTON'S  ADMINISTRATION.  [1790 

with  its  rural  surroundings  little  resembled  this  busy  cen 
tre. — About  this  time,  the  first  factory  for  making  cotton 
cloth  was  established,  in  Beverly,  Mass. ;  while  the  manufact 
ure  of  woollens  and  the  printing  of  calico  were  commenced 
at  Newburyport. 

Indian  War. — Ever  since  the  Revolution,  the  Indians 
had  given  trouble  on  the  western  frontier.  Emissaries  from 
the  posts  which  the  British  still  retained  contrary  to  treaty, 
had  fired  the  Red  Men  with  increased  hatred  toward  the 
settlers  now  rapidly  encroaching  on  their  hunting-grounds. 
The  pioneers  who  dotted  the  valley  of  "  the  beautiful  river," 
as  the  French  called  the  Ohio,  had  suffered  in  consequence 
from  depredations,  which  the  Continental  Congress  had  no 
means  of  preventing.  The  Indians  grew  bolder  as  they  saw 
that  their  outrages  went  unpunished,  and  finally  assumed 
so  defiant  a  tone  that  an  invasion  of  their  territory  was 
deemed  necessary. 

A  permanent  settlement,  the  first  in  Ohio,  had  been  com 
menced  at  Marietta  in  1788.  The  same  year,  some  emi 
grants  had  fixed  their  abode  on  the  present  site  of  Cincinnati, 
and  there  also  Fort  Washington  had  been  erected.  From 
this  post,  in  the  fall  of  1790, 1,400  men,  under  Gen.  Harmer, 
moved  north  to  lay  waste  the  Miami  country.  They  suc 
ceeded  in  burning  several  villages  ;  but  shortly  after,  an 
ambush  proved  fatal  to  an  important  detachment,  and  the 
main  body  suffered  a  disastrous  defeat. 

Gen.  St.  Clair,  whom  we  last  met  at  Ticonderoga,  was 
now  governor  of  the  North-west  Territory  ;  and  in  Septem 
ber,  1791,  he  started  on  an  expedition  against  the  Miamis. 
But  he  fared  even  worse  than  Harmer,  being  surprised  by 
the  Indians  near  the  Wabash,  in  what  is  now  western  Ohio 
(see  Map,  p.  214),  and  losing  two-thirds  of  his  men,  his  bag 
gage,  and  artillery. 

Gen.  Wayne,  whose  dashing  gallantry  at  Stony  Point 
had  gained  him  the  title  of  "  Mad  Anthony,"  was  now  made 


1794]  WASHINGTON'S  ADMINISTRATION.  203 

corarnander-in-chief,  and  undertook  the  management  of  the 
war.  In  1794,  he  inflicted  on  the  Indians  a  defeat  and  loss 
from  which  they  never  recovered.  Defiance,  Ohio,  still  pre 
serves  the  name  of  Fort  Defiance,  which  Wayne  erected  dur 
ing  this  campaign  ;  and  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  was  originally 
a  government-post  which  the  same  general  built  to  keep  the 
Indian  country  in  subjection. 

The  hostile  tribes,  their  crops  and  villages  far  and  near 
having  been  destroyed,  were  soon  ready  to  purchase  peace 
by  making  an  extensive  cession  of  territory  to  the  United 
States,  corresponding  in  the  main  with  the  present  state  of 
Ohio.  After  this,  the  frontier  had  rest  for  some  years  ;  per 
haps  the  Indians  were  frightened  by  "  Mad  Anthony's " 
threat,  that  he  would  rise  from  the  grave  to  punish  them  if 
they  ever  broke  the  treaty. 

The  Republican  Party. —  From  the  first  some  had  op 
posed  the  Constitution,  on  the  ground  of  its  giving  too  much 
power  to  the  general  government.  These  gradually  grew  into 
a  strong  party  known  as  Republicans,  and  at  a  later  period 
as  Democrats.  Among  their  leaders  was  Jefferson,  who  had 
returned  from  France  so  thoroughly  imbued  with  democratic 
principles  that  he  wore  a  waistcoat  and  breeches  of  scarlet, 
red  being  the  color  adopted  by  the  French  revolutionists. 

The  Republicans  objected  to  Hamilton's  financial  meas 
ures,  opposed  the  U.  S.  Bank,  and  found  fault  with  Wash 
ington  as  an  aristocrat.  They  thought  "  his  Excellency " 
was  too  much  like  a  king,  with  his  four-horse  coach  of 
cream-color,  and  his  grand  levees  where  courtly  forms  pre 
vailed.  Yet,  in  spite  of  politicians,  Washington  and  Adams 
were  elected  for  a  second  term.  Meanwhile,  the  seat  of 
government  had  been  removed  to  Philadelphia,  and  provision 
made  for  the  selection  of  a  site  on  the  Potomac  for  a  per 
manent  capital. 

France  or  England.— Since  1789  a  bloody  revolution  had 
been  in  progress  in  France,  which  resulted  in  the  overthrow 


204  WASHINGTON'S  ADMINISTRATION.  [1794 

of  monarchy,  and  the  execution  of  King  Louis  XVJ.  in  1793. 
War  was  declared  between  England  and  the  French  Republic, 
and  the  question  arose  which  side  the  United  States  should 
take.  A  bitter  feeling  generally  prevailed  against  England, 
on  account  of  her  retaining  the  western  posts  which  she  had 
agreed  to  surrender,  and  her  unwillingness  to  enter  into  lib 
eral  commercial  arrangements.  On  the  other  hand,  France 
was  remembered  with  gratitude,  and  the  republicans  desired 
that  the  United  States  should  decide  in  her  favor. 

But  Washington  could  not  decide  in  favor  of  a  govern 
ment  that  had  guillotined  the  king  who  had  aided  America, 
and  compelled  the  good  Lafayette  to  fly  for  his  life.  He 
issued  a  proclamation  of  neutrality, — that  is,  that  citizens  of 
the  United  States  should  refrain  from  aiding  either  power. 
When  Genet',  the  minister  of  the  French  Republic,  sent  out 
privateers  from  Charleston  to  operate  against  British  mer 
chantmen,  arid  strove  to  array  the  people  against  Washing 
ton's  policy,  his  government  was  requested  to  recall  him. 

Washington  and  Hamilton,  the  federalist  leaders,  were 
now  assailed  with  violent  abuse.  Democratic  societies  were 
formed,  and  the  country  was  distracted  with  party  excite 
ment.  Intelligence  arriving  that  John  Jay,  as  minister- 
plenipotentiary  to  England,  had  succeeded  in  making  a 
treaty  which  settled  existing  differences  with  that  country, 
he  was  burned  in  effigy  before  his  own  house  in  New  York. 
At  the  close  of  1793,  Jefferson  left  the  cabinet. 

Whiskey  Rebellion, — In  the  summer  of  1794,  the  opposi 
tion  to  government  showed  itself  in  a  more  dangerous  form 
than  words.  The  distillation  of  spirits  had  all  along  been 
subject  to  a  tax.  In  many  quarters  this  excise-duty  had 
been  evaded  ;  and  when  it  was  attempted  to  enforce  its  col 
lection  in  western  Pennsylvania,  armed  resistance  was  made, 
and  various  outrages  were  committed  by  the  disaffected.  To 
put  down  this  "Whiskey  Rebellion,"  the  militia  had  to  be 
called  out. 


1794]  WASHINGTON'S  ADMINISTRATION.  205 

The  political  excitement,  however,  gradually  subsided. 
Washington  was  importuned  to  serve  a  third  term,  but 
declined,  and  John  Adams  was  elected  to  succeed  him.  No 
subsequent  president  has  served  more  than  eight  years  ; 
though  the  Constitution  does  not  forbid  a  third  term,  the 
feeling  of  the  people  seems  to  be  decidedly  against  it. 

Discovery  of  Coal. — A  great  discovery  and  a  great  in 
vention  wonderfully  stimulated  the  industries  of  the  nation, 
toward  the  close  of  the  century.  In  1791,  a  hunter,  wander 
ing  for  game  on  the  bleak  Mauch  Chunk  (mawk  chunk) 
Mountain,  in  Pennsylvania  near  the  Lehigh  River,  stumbled 
against  a  large  black  shining  stone.  Struck  with  its  appear 
ance,  he  picked  it  up  ;  it  was  sent  to  Philadelphia,  and  there 
pronounced  to  be  COAL.  The  mountain  was  explored,  and 
found  to  contain  an  invaluable  bed  of  this  precious  mineral. 
The  development  of  the  great  coal-region  of  Pennsylvania 
rapidly  followed.  Fuel  being  thus  conveniently  supplied, 
the  iron  deposits  of  the  same  state  became  doubly  valuable, 
and  the  production  of  this  metal  grew  into  one  of  its  leading 
industries. 

The  Cotton-Gin. — The  important  invention  referred  to 
above,  was  the  cotton-gin.  The  difficulty  of  separating  the 
seeds  from  the  fibre  by  hand  had  always  been  a  great  draw 
back  in  the  production  of  cotton.  In  1792,  Eli  Whitney,  of 
Massachusetts,  then  studying  law  in  Georgia,  was  asked  to 
devise  some  way  of  removing  the  seeds  by  machinery,  and 
the  result  was  the  invention  of  the  gin.  Unfortunately  for 
Whitney,  his  model  was  stolen  before  a  patent  was  obtained, 
and  he  was  defrauded  of  his  just  reward.  But  the  value  of 
his  invention  to  the  country  was  inestimable.  A  wonderful 
impetus  was  given  to  the  cultivation  of  cotton.  The  crop 
in  1791  was  2,000,000  pounds;  in  ten  years,  it  had  increased 
to  48,000,000.  Since  then  cotton  has  become  the  great 
southern  staple,  the  annual  production  amounting  to  from 
thirty  to  forty  times  the  quantity  just  mentioned. 


206 


WASHINGTON  8    ADMINISTRATION. 


[1796 


Three  New  States  were  added  to  the  Union  during  Wash 
ington's  administration.  First  was  Vermont,  which  had  re 
sisted  the  claims  of  New  York  till  the  latter  abandoned  them 
in  consideration  of  $30,000  paid  by  the  "  Green  Mountain 
Boys."  Vermont  was  first  settled  in  17245  at  Fort  Dummer, 
near  the  present  village  of  Brattleboro  ;  it  was  admitted  in 
1791. 

Second  was  Kentucky,  where  the  pioneer  in  his  log  cabin, 
with  his  rifle  and  hound,  was  as  independent  as  a  prince. 

A  flourishing  common 
wealth  had  here  sprung 
up,  which,  despite  a 
strong  inclination  on 
the  part  of  some  of  the 
inhabitants  to  form  a 
separate  nation,  found 
a  home  in  the  Federal 
Union  in  1792. 

Third  was  Tennes 
see  (1796),  where,  as 
we  have  seen,  Caro 
linians  had  early  plant 
ed  themselves  ;  Fort 
Loudon,  thirty  miles 
from  where  Knoxville 
now  stands,  was  the 
pioneer  settlement.  The  first  representative  of  Tennessee 
in  Congress  was  a  man  of  decided  character,  destined  to  do 
good  service  to  his  country;  his  name  was  Andrew  Jackson. 

ADMINISTRATION    OF    JOHN    ADAMS,    1797-1801. 

John  Adams  was  a  federalist.  He  received  a  few  more 
votes  than  Jefferson  ;  who,  standing  second,  according  to 
the  Constitution  became  vice-president. 

War  threatened, — The  president's  policy  of  neutrality, 


PIONEEK  LIFE  IN  KENTUCKY. 


1799]  ADMINISTRATION   OF   JOHN   ADAMS.  207 

following  on  Jay's  treaty  with  England,  greatly  exasperated 
France.  French  and  American  vessels  met  on  the  ocean, 
and  in  the  encounters  between  them,  thanks  to  Captain 
Truxton  and  his  frigate  Constellation,  the  United  States  did 
not  come  off  second  best.  Preparations  were  made  for  war. 
Washington  was  again  summoned  from  his  retirement  at 
Mount  Vernon  to  the  chief  command  of  the  army.  The  for 
mal  declaration  of  war,  however,  was  deferred  ;  and  when 
Napoleon  seized  the  sceptre  of  France  as  First  Consul,  a 
treaty  was  concluded  with  that  country  (1800). 

Death  of  Washington.  —  Meanwhile  Washington,  "  the 
warrior,  the  legislator,  and  the  citizen  without  reproach," 
had  passed  to  his  final  rest,  December  14,  1799.  His  be 
reaved  countrymen,  in  whose  hearts  he  was  still  first,  sin 
cerely  mourned  his  loss.  In  the  same  year  died  another 
great  and  good  Virginian — Patrick  Henry. 

The  New  Capital. — In  1800,  the  seat  of  government  was 
removed  to  the  city  of  Washington,  which  had  been  building 
since  1792  on  a  site  selected  by  the  first  president.  The 
surrounding  region  was  a  forest  wilderness.  Mrs.  Adams 
complained  of  the  difficulty  of  procuring  the  necessaries  of 
life  in  this  "  out-of-the-way  settlement." 

Election  of  1800.— The  popularity  of  the  federalists  was 
waning,  and  at  the  next  presidential  election  the  republican 
candidates  were  successful.  Thomas  Jefferson  and  Aaron 
Burr,  a  grandson  of  the  distinguished  metaphysician  Jona 
than  Edwards,  having  received  an  equal  number  of  votes, 
the  election  was  thrown  into  the  House  of  Representatives ; 
which,  after  repeated  ballotings,  gave  the  presidency  to 
Jefferson  and  made  Burr  vice-president. 

JEFFERSON'S  ADMINISTRATION,  1801-1809. 

James  Madison,  of  Virginia,  a  moderate  republican,  served 
as  secretary  of  state  throughout  Jefferson's  terms.  Early  in 
this  administration  (1802),  Ohio  was  admitted  as  the  seven- 


208  JEFFERSON'S  ADMINISTRATION.  [isos 

teenth  state,  and  the  name  of  Indiana  was  given  to  what 
was  left  of  the  North-west  Territory. 

Purchase  of  Louisiana, — A  most  valuable  acquisition  of 
teritory  was  made  in  1803.  Three  years  before,  Napoleon 
had  compelled  Spain  to  cede  Louisiana  to  France,  intending 
to  colonize  it  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi  for  military 
purposes.  A  new  rupture,  however,  having  occurred  with 
England,  he  changed  his  plans  and  sold  this  vast  tract  to 
the  United  States  for  $15,000,000.  The  extent  of  the  Lou 
isiana  Purchase,  and  what  states  have  been  formed  from  it, 
may  be  seen  by  consulting  the  Map  on  page  254. 

An  exploring  party  sent  out  by  government  was  soon 
crossing  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  traversing  wilds  which 
the  foot  of  a  white  man  now  trod  for  the  first  time.  Oregon, 
included  in  this  purchase,  had  been  claimed  by  the  United 
States  before,  in  virtue  of  the  discovery  of  the  Columbia 
River  by  Captain  Gray,  of  Boston,  in  1792. 

Tripolitan  War. — In  1803,  a  lesson  was  taught  to  the 
pirates  of  the  Barbary  States,  on  the  Mediterranean  coast 
of  Africa.  The  U.  S.  government,  as  well  as  several  Euro 
pean  powers,  had  been  in  the  habit  of  paying  the  beys,  or 
governors,  of  these  states  a  yearly  tribute  for  the  protection 
of  its  commerce.  Their  insolent  exactions  at  length  becom 
ing  intolerable,  Commodore  Preble  (preb'tfl)  was  sent  with 
a  squadron  to  vindicate  the  honor  of  the  flag.  This  he  did, 
bringing  the  Bey  of  Tripoli  to  terms,  after  destroying  several 
of  his  vessels  and  bombarding  his  capital.  Lieutenant  Deca- 
tur  particularly  distinguished  himself  in  the  Tripolitan  War, 
by  recapturing  and  firing  an  American  frigate  under  the 
guns  of  the  fort  in  the  harbor  of  Tripoli. 

Aaron  Burr.  —  Jefferson  was  elected  president  for  a 
second  term,  and  the  vice-presidency  was  conferred  on  Gov 
ernor  George  Clinton,  of  New  York.  Vice-President  Burr 
had  incurred  public  odium  by  fastening  a  quarrel  on  Hamil 
ton,  in  revenge  for  political  opposition,  and  by  killing  this 


1807] 


JEFFERSON  8    ADMINISTRATION. 


209 


eminent  statesman  in  a  duel,  July,  1804.  Burr  afterward 
engaged  in  a  mysterious  enterprise,  which  aimed  either  at 
wresting  Mexico  from  Spain,  or  at  breaking  up  the  Union 
and  making  a  separate  government  out  of  the  South-west — 
his  own  aggrandizement,  in  either  case,  being  the  chief  ob 
ject.  Arrested  in  1807,  he  was  tried  for  treason,  and,  though 
acquitted  for  want  of  proof,  he  never  recovered  his  former 
standing. 

Invention  of  the  Steamboat,— The  application  of  steam 
in  a  practicable  \vay  to  the  propelling  of  boats  was  a  great 
scientific  triumph  that  signalized  Jefferson's  administration. 
Robert  Fulton  was  the  inventor,  his  boat  the  Clermont,  and 
the  scene  of  its  trial-trip  the  Hudson  River. 

Attempts  to  use  steam  in  navigation  had  been  made  be 
fore,  and  with  partial  success  by  John  Fitch,  also  an  Amer- 


THE  FIEST  STEAMBOAT  ON  THE  HUDSON. 


210  JEFFERSON'S  ADMINISTRATION.  [ISOT 

lean,  on  the  Delaware  (1787-90)  ;  but  they  had  been  without 
practical  results.  When  Fulton's  boat  ascended  the  Hudson 
amid  the  cheers  of  wondering  spectators  on  the  banks  (1807), 
a  new  era  dawned  on  inland  commerce.  To  reach  Albany 
in  thirty-six  hours,  as  the  Clermont  did,  was  a  great  gain, 
for  previously  the  trip  by  sailing-vessels  had  taken  from  six 
to  ten  days. 

The  Abolition  of  the  Slave-Trade  made  the  year  1808 
memorable.  The  importation  of  slaves  into  the  United  States 
subsequently  to  this  date  was  forbidden  under  heavy  penal 
ties.  Provision  for  the  extinction  of  slavery  had  already 
been  made  in  all  the  northern  states,  mostly  by  gradual 
emancipation.  When  the  North-west  Territory  was  organ 
ized,  slavery  was  expressly  excluded  from  it.  Louisiana,  at 
the  date  of  its  purchase,  contained  40,000  slaves,  with  whom 
Congress  did  not  meddle  ;  the  institution  also  remained  in 
force  in  Delaware,  Maryland,  Virginia,  the  Carolinas,  and 
Georgia,  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee. 

British  aggressions  gave  President  Jefferson  great  con 
cern  during  his  second  term.  Looking  upon  herself  as  mis 
tress  of  the  ocean,  England,  during  her  wars  with  Napoleon, 
utterly  disregarded  the  rights  of  the  United  States  as  a  neu 
tral  nation.  Her  cruisers  would  stop  and  search  American 
vessels,  and  seize  such  able-bodied  seamen  as  were  needed, 
on  the  pretext  that  they  were  British  subjects.  An  Amer 
ican  frigate,  not  in  a  condition  to  resist,  having  been  sub 
jected  to  this  indignity  almost  within  sight  of  an  American 
port,  after  receiving  several  broadsides  for  denying  the  right 
of  search,  the  President  issued  a  proclamation  ordering  all 
British  ships-of-war  to  quit  the  waters  of  the  United  States. 
Congress  also  laid  an  embargo  on  American  vessels,  detain 
ing  them  at  home,  but  afterward  substituted  a  non-inter 
course  act,  prohibiting  trade  with  Great  Britain.  Yet  the 
latter  persisted  in  her  offensive  course. 

While  things  were  thus  drifting  toward  war,  Jefferson, 


isil]  MADISON'S  ADMINISTRATION.  211 

declining  re-election,  was  succeeded  in  the  presidency  by  his 
secretary  of  state  ;  Vice-President  Clinton  was  continued  in 
office  for  another  term. 

MADISON'S  ADMINISTRATION,  1809-1817. 

Tecumseh. — Meanwhile  there  were  signs  of  trouble  among 
the  western  Indians.  Excited  by  crafty  British  agents  and 
persuaded  by  the  fiery  eloquence  of  the  Shawnee  chief 
Tecum'seh,  a  number  of  tribes  in  the  valley  of  the  Wabash 
united  in  denying  the  validity  of  the  land-sales  that  had 
from  time  to  time  been  made,  and  threatened  to  resist  the 
further  occupancy  of  this  region  by  white  settlers.  Gen. 
Harrison,  then  governor  of  Indiana  Territory,  was  alarmed 
at  the  menacing  tone  of  the  Red  Men.  Hearing  that  Tecum 
seh  was  inciting  the  southern  tribes  also  to  join  in  a  general 
uprising,  he  gathered  an  army  at  his  capital,  Vincennes,  and 
took  up  his  march  to  the  north. 

Tippecanoe, — On  the  Tippecanoe  River,  in  what  is  now 
western  Indiana  (see  Map,  p.  214),  lay  the  chief  town  of  the 
hostile  natives,  under  Tecumseh's  brother,  whose  pretensions 
to  supernatural  knowledge  had  gained  for  him  the  title  of 
"  the  Prophet."  Encamping  for  the  night  in  the  neighbor 
hood  of  this  town,  Harrison's  men  were  suddenly  attacked 
by  a  horde  of  whooping  savages,  before  daylight  on  the  7th 
of  November,  1811.  The  conflict  was  severe,  but  resulted 
in  the  complete  discomfiture  of  the  Indians.  The  Prophet's 
town  was  burned,  the  surrounding  country  laid  waste,  and 
most  of  the  opposing  tribes  sued  for  peace. 

Tecumseh's  plans  were  for  the  time  disconcerted  ;  but 
when  in  the  following  year  hostilities  broke  out  with  the 
British,  he  appeared  in  Canada  with  a  number  of  his  braves, 
and  was  made  a  general  in  the  British  army. 

War  declared. — All  hopes  of  obtaining  concessions  on 
the  impressment  question  from  Great  Britain  were  at  length 
abandoned.  George  III.,  who  was  still  on  the  throne,  had 


212 

become  insane,  and  the  men  who  managed  affairs  were  as 
short-sighted  as  his  advisers  forty  years  before,  whose  folly 
had  provoked  the  Revolution.  Longer  submission  to  the 
arrogant  claims  of  Great  Britain  was  deemed  unworthy  of  a 
free  nation,  and  war  was  formally  declared  by  the  United 
States,  June  18,  1812.  On  hearing  the  news,  most  of  the 
American  seamen  who  had  been  impressed  as  "  British  sub 
jects,"  at  the  risk  of  flogging  and  possibly  of  death,  refused 
to  serve  against  their  country  ;  2,500  such  were  kept  im 
prisoned  in  England  throughout  the  war. 

During  the  anxious  period  which  preceded  the  com 
mencement  of  hostilities,  the  state  of  Louisiana,  formed 
from  the  territory  recently  purchased  from  France,  was  ad 
mitted  into  the  Union  ;  and  from  the  same  tract  the  Terri 
tory  of  Missouri  was  organized,  with  the  growing  town  of 
St.  Louis  as  its  seat  of  government. 


CONTEMPORARY  EVENTS  AND  RULERS. 

18OCX— Population  of  the  United  States,  6,309,758,— 896,849  of  the 
number  being  slaves.  Population  of  New  York,  60,489 ;  of  Philadelphia, 
41,220;  of  Baltimore,  26,514;  of  Boston,  24,937;  of  New  Orleans,  about 
9,000 ;  of  Cincinnati,  750.  Post-offices,  903. 

Sixteen  states  in  the  Union.  Washington  City,  Avith  a  population  of 
3,200,  becomes  the  capital  of  the  United  States.  The  Territory  North-west 
of  the  Ohio,  containing  45,000  inhabitants,  divided ;  the  eastern  part  erected 
into  the  Territory  of  Ohio,  the  western  into  the  Territory  of  Indiana.  Pro 
visions  made  by  Congress  to  regulate  the  sale  of  public  lands.  John 
Adams  president.  John  Marshall,  the  biographer  of  Washington  and  for 
thirty-four  years  Chief-Justice  of  the  United  States,  secretary  of  state. 
John  Jay  governor  of  New  York.  Treaty  between  the  United  States  and 
France.  Cession  of  Louisiana  to  France  by  Spain.  Product  of  the  Mexican 
mines  for  the  year,  $22,000,000. 

George  III.  of  England  in  the  fortieth  year  of  his  reign ;  the  younger 
Pitt  prime-minister ;  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  united.  Napoleon  first  con 
sul  of  France ;  his  famous  campaign  in  Italy.  Holland,  Switzerland,  northern 
Italy,  and  Genoa,  republics— the  result  of  the  French  Revolution.  Francis  II. 
emperor  of  Germany. 


1812]  WAR  WITH   GREAT   BRITAIN.  213 

CHAPTER    XXYI. 

WAR    WITH  GREAT  BRITAIN,  1812-1815. 

OPERATIONS    OF    1812. 

First  Movements. — The  United  States  had  but  an  insig 
nificant  force  in  readiness,  with  which  to  commence  war  upon 
a  great  nation.  Gen.  Dearborn,  who  had  seen  service  in  the 
Revolution,  was  made  commander-in-chief  ;  and  3,000  regu 
lars,  with  nearly  as  many  militia-men  of  New  York  and  Ver 
mont,  were  collected  on  Lake  Champlain  under  his  direction. 
The  first  aggressive  movement,  however,  was  made  farther 
west,  in  Upper  Canada,  by  1,800  men  under  Gen.  Hull.  For 
several  years  Hull  had  been  governor  of  Michigan  Territory, 
which  had  been  set  off  from  the  Territory  of  Indiana. 

Dilatory  at  a  time  when  energetic  action  was  specially 
needed,  the  government  failed  to  give  prompt  notice  of  the 
declaration  of  war  to  its  remote  western  posts.  Through 
this  neglect,  Mackinaw,  which  commanded  the  strait  between 
Lakes  Michigan  and  Huron,  and  indeed  the  whole  country 
about  the  upper  lakes,  was  taken  unawares  by  a  force  of 
British  and  Indians,  and  obliged  to  surrender. 

Hull's  Surrender.— Hull  crossed  from  Detroit  into  Can 
ada  ;  but,  in  stead  of  marching  promptly  on  the  British  at 
Maiden  (Map,  p.  214),  he  delayed  till  that  post  had  been  too 
strongly  garrisoned  to  be  attacked,  and  the  woods  swarmed 
with  Tecumseh's  Indians.  Then  he  crossed  back  again. 
His  timidity  invited  attack,  and  a  body  of  the  enemy  under 
Gen.  Brock  crossed  from  Canada,  and  was  soon  marching  on 
the  works  at  Detroit.  The  Americans  had  their  guns,  load 
ed  with  grape,  trained  on  the  advancing  foe,  with  every 
prospect  of  a  brilliant  victory  ;  when,  to  their  indescribable 
mortification,  Hull,  who  seems  to  have  forgotten  his  man 
hood,  raised  a  white  flag  in  token  of  surrender.  Army  and 


214: 


MADISON'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[1812 


stores,  Detroit  and  the  whole  of  Michigan,  were  uncondi 
tionally  given  up  to  the  enemy  (August  16th). 

Hull  was  afterward  exchanged,  and  tried  by  court-mar 
tial  for  treason  and  cowardice.  He  was  found  guilty  of  the 
latter  and  sentenced  to  be  shot,  but  in  view  of  his  previous 
services  was  pardoned  by  the  president. 

Loss  of  Fort  Dearborn. — The  day  before  the  disgraceful 
surrender  at  Detroit,  Fort  Dearborn,  on  the  site  of  the  pres 
ent  city  of  Chicago,  was  abandoned  to  the  neighboring 
tribes,  who  were  in  the  interest  of  the  British.  The  garri- 


,v.  ^^--.rr^ 

Cgfy*     South  JBend 

• 


'<•*&£'  Ft.St£ieusouand"Sl£y        1     } 

Vpr^Ofl  nonon^oCFriimont)  D^ 


CrawforasvUl^ 

/         Kichrnona 


WESTERN  BATTLE-FIELDS  LOCATED  RELATIVELY  TO  PRESENT  CITIES. 

son  were  promised  an  escort  through  the  wilderness  to  Fort 
Wayne,  but  had  hardly  commenced  their  march  when  the 
savages,  provoked  by  their  having  destroyed  their  whiskey 
and  surplus  ammunition  the  night  before,  fell  upon  them, 
and  a  scene  of  carnage  followed.  Some  were  scalped  for 
the  sake  of  the  bounties  which  the  British  had  offered  ;  those 
who  survived,  were  distributed  among  their  captors. 

The  Niagara  Frontier  next  became  the  seat  of  war. 
Gen.  Brock  hastened  thither  to  repel  an  invasion  by  a 
body  of  American  militia  assembling  at  Lewiston,  sup- 


1812]  BATTLE    OF    QTJEENSTOWN.  215 

ported  by  a  few  regulars.  The  expected  troops  came  tar 
dily  ;  but  in  October  Gen.  Van  Rensselaer,  the  American 
commander,  determined  to  attack  the  enemy  at  Queenstown. 
The  Niagara  was  crossed  (October  13th — see  Map,  p.  224), 
and  Queenstown  Heights  were  carried  in  gallant  style.  In 
attempting  to  retake  them,  Brock  fell. 

The  British  Gen.  Sheaffe  (shefe),  with  re-enforcements 
from  Fort  George,  now  appeared  in  sight.  Anxiously  did 
the  Americans,  only  600  of  whom  had  as  yet  crossed,  look 
for  succor  from  the  other  side  of  the  river — but  in  vain. 
The  dastardly  militia,  drawn  up  on  the  bank,  were  panic- 
struck  at  the  sight  of  the  wounded,  and  refused  to  enter  the 
boats.  Those  on  the  Canadian  side,  outnumbered  two  to 
one,  maintained  the  struggle  for  a  time,  but  finally  surren 
dered.  In  this  action,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Scott  and  Captain 
Wool,  of  whom  we  shall  hear  more  anon,  commenced  their 
honorable  careers. 

Naval  Operations. — If  the  Americans  had  reason  to  blush 
for  their  defeats  on  land,  they  might  well  be  proud  of  their 
triumphs  on  the  ocean.  Great  Britain  had  thought  it  im 
possible  for  the  few  vessels  of  the  young  republic  to  cope 
with  her  mighty  navy,  but  she  was  taught  that  "  Yankee 
craft"  were  not  to  be  despised.  The  Guerriere  (gare-e-are'), 
one  of  her  finest  frigates,  struck  its  colors  to  the  Constitu 
tion  (August  19th) — as  also  did  the  Macedonian  to  Decatur, 
of  Tripolitan  fame,  in  the  frigate  United  States — and  the- 
Java  to  Commodore  Bainbridge,  in  the  same  good  frigate 
Constitution,  "  Old  Ironsides,"  just  as  the  year  was  closing. 

The  Essex,  the  President,  the  Argus,  all  took  valuable 
prizes.  The  Wasp,  under  Captain  Jones,  was  victorious  in 
a  terrible  encounter  with  the  Frolic,  but  had  to  strike  to  a 
British  seventy-four  before  she  could  secure  her  prize.  Nor 
must  we  forget  the  gallantry  of  Commodore  Chauncey  on 
Lake  Ontario,  nor  Lieutenant  Elliott,  who  cut  out  two 
armed  brigs  from  under  the  guns  of  Fort  Erie. 


216  MADISON'S  ADMINISTRATION.  [is  12 

Madison  re-elected. — The  federalists,  accused  by  the  op 
posite  party  of  sympathizing  with  Great  Britain,  had  from 
the  outset  opposed  the  war  ;  the  disasters  to  the  American 
arms  furnished  them  fresh  arguments  against  it.  Yet  Madi 
son  was  re-elected,  with  Elbridge  Gerry  (yher're)  of  Massa 
chusetts  as  vice-president.  James  Monroe,  of  Virginia,  who 
had  distinguished  himself  in  several  of  Washington's  battles, 
was  secretary  of  state  throughout  the  war.  The  weakness 
of  the  army  and  navy  being  apparent,  Congress  now  took 
measures  for  strengthening  both. 

OPERATIONS    OF    1813. 

Harrison's  Campaign. — After  Hull's  surrender,  the  west 
ern  frontier  would  have  been  entirely  unprotected  but  for  a 
body  of  Kentuckians,  who  had  responded  to  the  call  of  gov 
ernment  for  volunteers,  and  had  taken  the  field  under  the 
hero  of  Tippecanoe.  Recruits  from  other  states  joined  Har 
rison's  standard,  and  he  was  soon  appointed  to  the  command 
of  the  North-west  with  ample  powers. 

Harrison's  aim  was  to  recover  Detroit.  His  advance 
was  necessarily  slow,  and  the  winter  of  1812-13  overtook 
him  in  north-western  Ohio.  In  January  the  advanced  divi 
sion,  under  Gen.  Winchester,  had  reached  the  rapids  of  the 
Maumee,  when  unfortunately,  having  been  led  to  the  relief 
of  an  exposed  settlement  across  the  Michigan  line,  it  was 
surprised  and  captured  by  British  and  Indians  from  Maiden, 
under  Gen.  Proctor. 

The  Americans  surrendered  on  Proctor's  pledge  that  the 
disabled  should  be  protected  ;  in  spite  of  which,  all  the 
wounded  were  cruelly  left  at  the  mercy  of  the  bloodthirsty 
savages.  Many  of  them  were  scalped,  while  others  were 
dragged  through  the  streets  of  Detroit  and  doomed  to  tort 
ure  unless  ransomed.  The  British  general,  more  careful  for 
his  safety  than  his  honor,  hastened  back  to  Maiden  imme 
diately  after  the  battle,  with  the  bulk  of  his  prisoners. 


1813]  SIEGE   OF  FOKT   MEIGS.  217 

There  lie  paid  his  allies  for  the  scalps  yet  covered  with 
blood,  and  complimented  them  on  their  bravery. 

Siege  of  Fort  Meigs. — Weakened  by  the  loss  of  this  di 
vision,  Gen.  Harrison  could  not  continue  his  advance  on 
Detroit.  But  with  his  1,200  men  he  moved  to  the  rapids  of 
the  Maumee,  and  there  erected  Fort  Meigs  (see  Map,  p. 
214).  Hardly  were  the  works  finished,  when  the  active 
Proctor  and  the  dusky  followers  of  Tecumseh  appeared  be 
fore  them.  The  siege  was  vigorously  pressed  for  some 
days  ;  but,  though  a  division  of  Kentuckians  coming  to  the 
aid  of  their  countrymen  was  defeated  and  captured,  no  im 
pression  could  be  made  on  the  fort.  Tecumseh,  as  his  share 
of  the  spoils,  had  been  promised  the  person  of  Gen.  Harri 
son,  whom  he  specially  hated  ;  his  brother,  the  Prophet,  was 
to  have  had  the  whole  of  Michigan.  Both  were  disappointed. 
The  siege  was  raised ;  and  Proctor  fell  back  to  Maiden,  his 
reputation  stained  with  a  still  darker  dye  by  the  atrocities 
he  had  permitted  toward  the  Kentuckians  he  had  taken. 

Capture  of  York. — Meanwhile  an  invasion  of  Canada  was 
projected  by  Gen.  Dearborn,  at  Sackett's  Harbor,  on  the 
eastern  shore  of  Lake  Ontario.  On  the  25th  of  April,  1,700 
picked  men  under  Gen.  Pike  embarked  on  Commodore 
Chauncey's  flotilla,  and  sailed  up  the  lake  to  York,  the 
capital  of  Upper  Canada,  now  the  flourishing  city  of  To 
ronto.  The  invaders  landed,  drove  the  enemy  before  them, 
carried  two  batteries,  and  were  about  entering  the  block 
house,  when  the  earth  shook  with  an  appalling  explosion. 
The  British  had  retired  from  the  works,  having  first  lighted 
a  slow-match  connected  with  their  magazine.  Stones  and 
timbers  filled  the  air,  and  the  effect  on  the  assailing  column 
was  terrible  ;  but  York  was  taken,  with  some  300  prisoners, 
a  vessel-of-war,  and  abundant  stores. 

Gen.  Pike  was  among  those  mortally  injured.  The 
cheers  of  his  men  fell  on  his  ears  as  he  lay  dying.  "  What 
does  it  mean  ?  "  he  asked.  "  Victory,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  the 
10 


218  MADISON'S  ADMINISTRATION.  [1813 

stars  and  stripes  are  going  up."  The  captured  British  flag 
was  placed  beneath  his  head  just  as  his  breath  was  ceasing. 
There  was  a  sad  fulfillment  of  the  wish  he  had  expressed  in 
a  letter  to  his  father  a  few  days  before  :  "  If  we  are  des 
tined  to  fall,  may  my  fall  be  like  Wolfe's — to  sleep  in  the 
arms  of  victory." 

Capture  of  Fort  George. — The  victorious  army,  re-en 
forced,  next  proceeded  to  Fort  George,  near  the  mouth  of 
the  Niagara  River  (see  Map,  p.  224).  The  enemy  hastily 
blew  up  their  magazine,  and  evacuated  not  only  this  post, 
but  also  the  whole  line  of  the  Niagara.  About  the  same 
time,  however,  they  ran  over  from  Kingston,  attacked  Sack- 
ett's  Harbor,  now  left  feebly  garrisoned,  and  succeeded  in 
doing  some  damage  before  they  were  driven  back  to  their 
ships  by  Gen.  Brown. 

Attack  on  Fort  Stephenson. — While  Harrison  was  still 
waiting  for  re-enforcements,  Proctor,  having  now  5,000  men 
under  his  command  at  Maiden,  made  a  second  attempt  on 
Fort  Meigs.  Failing  in  an  artifice  by  which  he  had  hoped 
to  draw  out  the  garrison,  he  advanced  against  Fort  Stephen- 
son,  situated  where  Fremont,  O.,  now  stands  (see  Map,  p. 
214).  This  post  was  commanded  by  Major  Cro'ghan,  a 
young  Kentuckian,  and  the  bravest  of  the  brave.  The 
British  attempted  to  take  the  fort  by  storm ;  but  such  good 
use  did  Croghan  make  of  his  solitary  six-pounder  that  the 
assault  resulted  in  a  bloody  repulse  and  disorderly  retreat. 
Proctor  withdrew  his  army  the  following  night. 

Battle  of  Lake  Erie. — Commodore  Chauncey  was  master 
of  Lake  Ontario,  but  the  command  of  Lake  Erie  belonged 
to  the  enemy.  To  wrest  it  from  them,  and  thus  clip  Proc 
tor's  wings  and  aid  in  the  recovery  of  Michigan,  was  the 
important  service  required  of  Captain  Oliver  H.  Perry  in 
the  spring  of  1813.  Vessels  had  to  be  built,  equipped,  and 
manned.  Perry  pushed  the  work  rapidly,  and  by  the  mid 
dle  of  August  was  ready  to  exchange  broadsides  with  his 


1813] 


BATTLE    OF    LAKE    ERIE. 


219 


adversary.  The  British  fleet  was  commanded  by  Commodore 
Barclay,  one  of  Nelson's  veterans  ;  it  carried  the  most  guns, 
but  consisted  of  only  six  vessels  to  Perry's  nine. 

The  plan  of  the  campaign  having  been  arranged  with 
Gen.  Harrison,  Commodore  Perry  manoeuvred  to  bring  about 
an  engagement,  but  for  some  time  in  vain.  Proctor's  In 
dian  allies  became  impatient,  and  Tecumseh  was  hardly  sat- 


PEERY  LEAVING  ins  FLAG-SHIP. 


isfied  with  the  explana 
tion  that  "  the  canoes  of 
his  great  father  King 
George  were  not  ready." 
The  necessity,  however, 
of  keeping  open  the  com 
munications  by  which  supplies  were  received,  at  last  drove 
the  British  fleet  from  its  haven,  and  on  the  10th  of  Septem 
ber  the  long-expected  battle  took  place.  For  two  hours  the 
enemy's  fire  was  concentrated  on  Perry's  flag-ship,  which 
was  riddled  till  it  became  almost  a  wreck  ;  his  crew  was  dis 
abled  ;  the  issue  of  the  fight  seemed  doubtful.  Then  a  sud 
den  inspiration  seized  the  American  commander;  he  would 


220  MADISON'S  ADMINISTRATION.  [1813 

transfer  his  broad  pennant  to  another  vessel  which  seemed 
uninjured,  half  a  mile  away.  He  performed  the  feat  success 
fully,  standing  erect  in  his  boat,  while  a  storm  of  grape-shot 
and  musket-balls  made  the  water  boil  around  him. 

This  movement  decided  the  battle.  Plunging  through 
the  enemy's  line  with  his  new  flag-ship,  he  delivered  deadly 
broadsides  right  and  left.  In  a  few  minutes  most  of  the 
hostile  vessels  had  struck ;  two  tried  to  escape,  but  failed. 
The  whole  British  fleet  was  captured.  On  the  back  of  an 
old  letter,  four  hours  after  the  action  began,  the  victor  of 
Lake  Erie  wrote  his  famous  dispatch  to  Gen.  Harrison  : 
"  We  have  met  the  enemy,  and  they  are  ours  ;  two  ships, 
two  brigs,  one  schooner,  and  a  sloop." 

Battle  of  the  Thames.  —  The  way  to  Canada  was  now 
open.  In  seventeen  days,  Harrison's  army,  embarked  on 
the  victorious  and  vanquished  vessels,  was  on  its  way  to 
Maiden.  Proctor,  taking  counsel  of  his  fears,  had  retreated, 
much  to  the  disgust  of  Tecumseh,  who  compared  his  brother- 
general  to  "  a  fat  dog,  which,  when  affrighted,  drops  its  tail 
between  its  legs  and  runs  off."  Harrison  lost  no  time  in 
giving  chase,  and  on  the  5th  of  October  he  came  up  with 
the  enemy  on  the  Thames  River,  about  sixty  miles  north 
east  of  Maiden  (see  Map,  p.  214). 

The  battle  was  soon  over.  A  spirited  charge  of  Colonel 
Johnson  and  his  Kentuckians  broke  the  British  line,  and  the 
regulars  immediately  surrendered.  The  Indians  for  a  time 
stood  their  ground  ;  but  when  they  saw  their  great  chief 
Tecumseh  fall  with  a  mortal  wound,  they  broke  into  flight. 
Proctor  had  deserted  his  men  early  in  the  battle,  and  within 
twenty-four  hours  had  placed  sixty  miles  between  himself 
and  the  incensed  Kentuckians.  Some  Canadian  women  near 
the  battle-field,  judging  the  American  leaders  by  their  own 
general,  are  said  to  have  thrown  their  children  into  the 
Thames,  to  save  them  from  being  killed  by  the  victors. 

Thus  gloriously  did  the  battle  of  the  Thames  vindicate 


1813]  CREEK   WAK.  221 

the  honor  of  the  American  arms.  The  power  of  the  hostile 
Indians  was  broken.  Michigan  was  recovered. 

Creek  War. — Meanwhile  Tecumseh's  appeals  had  not 
been  lost  upon  the  southern  Indians.  The  Creeks  dug  up 
the  tomahawk,  and  south-western  Alabama  became  the  scene 
of  savage  violence.  A  massacre  at  Fort  Mimms,  on  the  Ala 
bama  River,  aroused  the  people  of  the  neighboring  states, 
and  preparations  were  made  for  an  invasion  of  the  Creek 
country  with  several  thousand  men.  Gen.  Jackson,  ably 
supported  by  Gen.  Coffee,  had  the  chief  command.  Jackson 
has  already  been  mentioned  as  representative  from  Tennes 
see  ;  the  Indians  knew  him  as  "  the  Sharp  Knife,"  and  with 
good  reason.  At  Tallushatchee,  Tallade'ga,  Autosee,  Emuc- 
fau,  and  finally  at  the  Great  Horseshoe  Bend  of  the  Talla- 
poosa  River,  where  in  their  "  Beloved  Ground  "  they  believed 
themselves  invincible,  the  Creeks  were  defeated,  with  such 
loss  that  the  survivors  gladly  purchased  peace  by  the  cession 
of  most  of  their  territory. 

Renewed  Invasion  of  Canada.  —  Dearborn's  misfortune 
in  losing  600  men,  surrounded  in  the  neighborhood  of  Fort 
George  and  obliged  to  surrender,  led  to  his  being  super 
seded  by  Gen.  Wilkinson.  In  the  fall  of  1813,  the  latter 
undertook  an  expedition  against  Montreal.  While  he  was 
descending  the  St.  Lawrence,  a  sharp  action  with  the  enemy 
took  place  at  Chrysler's  Field  (November  llth).  But  Wil 
kinson  was  inefficient  ;  Gen.  Wade  Hampton,  who  was  ex 
pected  to  cooperate  in  the  attack  from  Plattsburg,  refused 
to  do  so  ;  and  the  expedition  was  abandoned.  Fort  George 
was  evacuated  and  destroyed  by  the  Americans  toward  the 
close  of  the  year,  the  neighboring  village  of  Newark  having 
been  first  set  on  fire  ;  a  wanton  act,  which  the  British  re 
taliated  by  burning  the  towns  on  the  New  York  side  of  the 
Niagara  from  Youngstown  to  Buffalo. 

Naval  Operations.  —  Successes  on  the  ocean  were  this 
year  intermingled  with  reverses.  Captain  Lawrence,  in  the 


222  MADISON'S  ADMINISTRATION.  [isis 

Hornet,  took  the  British  brig  Peacock  (February  24th),  but 
shortly  afterward  lost  the  frigate  Chesapeake  in  an  engage 
ment  with  the  Shannon.  His  last  words,  as  he  was  carried 
below  with  a  mortal  wound,  "  Don't  give  up  the  ship,"  were 
inscribed  on  the  flag  that  Perry  embalmed  with  glory  on 
Lake  Erie.  The  Argus  had  to  strike  her  colors  to  a  British 
sloop  in  the  English  Channel  (August  14th) ;  but,  on  the 
other  hand,  the  American  brig  Enterprise  captured  the 
Boxer,  and  Commodore  Porter,  in  the  Essex,  made  prizes 
of  a  number  of  armed  British  whalers,  during  a  successful 
cruise  in  the  Pacific.  The  enemy's  men-of-war  blockaded 
the  Atlantic  coast  more  closely  than  in  the  preceding  year. 
Their  depredations  gave  much  annoyance  along  the  shores 
of  the  Chesapeake,  and  gained  for  them  the  name  of  "  water 
Winnebagoes." 

OPERATIONS    OF    1814. 

Peace  Movements. — For  some  time  the  peace-party  had 
been  gaining  strength,  particularly  in  New  England.  An 
offer  on  the  part  of  Russia  to  act  as  mediator  had  been 
accepted  by  the  United  States,  but  declined  by  Great 
Britain.  When  the  latter,  however,  intimated  her  willing 
ness  to  treat  directly,  commissioners  were  at  once  appointed 
by  President  Madison  (January  14,  1814).  Among  these 
was  Henry  Clay,  "  the  mill-boy  of  the  Slashes,"  so  called 
from  a  district  of  Virginia  in  which  he  was  born.  Already 
one  of  the  great  statesmen  of  the  country,  Clay  had  repre 
sented  Kentucky  in  Congress,  and  was  Speaker  of  the  lower 
House  at  the  time  of  his  appointment. 

Warlike  Preparations, — The  commissioners  proceeded  to 
Europe  ;  but  both  parties  prepared  none  the  less  actively 
for  the  campaign  of  1814.  Congress  made  provision  for  in 
creasing  the  army,  and  authorized  a  loan  of  $25,000,000. 
On  the  other  hand,  England  sent  over  14,000  additional 
troops.  The  abdication  of  Napoleon  in  April  left  her  vet 
erans  who  had  been  warring  with  France  at  liberty,  and 


1814]  NAVAL   OPERATIONS.  223 

thus  enabled  her  to  assume  the  offensive  at  different  points, 
as  she  could  not  do  before. 

The  American  Congress  at  this  time  contained  some  of 
the  ablest  men  of  the  nation.  Among  the  ardent  support 
ers  of  the  war  was  John  C.  Calhoun,  of  South  Carolina. 
Daniel  Webster,  who  had  entered  the  House  of  Represent 
atives  as  a  federalist  from  New  Hampshire,  but  was  after 
ward  identified  with  Massachusetts,  made  his  first  speech  in 
that  bcdy  in  the  summer  of  1813. 

Naval  Operations. — The  close  blockade  of  the  coast  by 
British  cruisers  made  it  difficult  for  the  American  men-of- 
war  to  leave  port.  Hence  there  were  fewer  naval  battles, 
and  in  these  victory  declared  alternately  for  either  side. 
The  Essex,  which  we  left  in  the  Pacific  in  the  midst  of  a 
successful  career,  was  attacked  at  Valparaiso  (vahl-pah-ri'so) 
by  two  British  vessels  that  had  been  seeking  her,  and  had 
to  haul  down  her  colors, — "  unfortunate,  but  not  disgraced," 
as  Commodore  Porter  wrote.  The  American  brigs  Rattle 
snake  and  Syren  met  with  a  similar  fate.  To  counterbal 
ance  these  reverses,  the  Peacock  captured  the  British  brig 
fipervier  (a-pare-ve-a'),  and  the  Wasp  made  a  prize  of  the 
Reindeer  and  sunk  the  AVon. 

First  Aggressive  Movements. — The  campaign  was  opened 
by  the  Americans.  Late  in  March,  Wilkinson  with  4,000 
men  attempted  a  second  invasion  of  Canada.  Attacking  a 
stone  mill  which  the  British  had  made  an  outpost,  he  was 
easily  repulsed,  and  in  chagrin  at  his  defeat  gave  way  to 
Gen.  Jacob  Brown,  without  having  accomplished  anything. 

The  Niagara  Frontier. — Brown,  who  had  displayed  vigi 
lance  and  skill  in  repelling  several  British  attacks  along  the 
St.  Lawrence,  commenced  operations  on  the  Niagara  fron 
tier.  He  was  ably  seconded  by  Gen.  Scott,  to  whom  for  a 
time  he  left  the  command  of  the  troops  on  their  march  west 
ward,  while  he  returned  to  Sackett's  Harbor,  now  threatened 
by  the  British  from  Kingston.  They,  however,  attacked  Os- 


224 


MADISON'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


[1814 


wego  instead,  took  the  fort,  and  then  contented  themselves 
with  blockading  Sackett's  Harbor. 

Brown  thereupon  hastened  to  Buffalo,  and  carried  the 
war  into  the  enemy's  country.  July  3d,  he  crossed  the  Niag 
ara  ;  Fort  Erie  displayed  the 
white  flag  without  striking  a 
blow.  Re  -  enforcements  had 
been  sent  for  its  defence  by 
Gen.  Riall  ;  but  on  hearing  of 
its  surrender,  they  halted  at 
the  Chippewa  River.  Thither 
the  Americans  marched  to 
meet  them,  and  on  the  5th  of 
July  the  battle  of  Chippewa 
was  fought.  It  resulted  glo 
riously  to  the  American  arms> 
and  added  to  the  laurels  of 
Gen.  Scott. 

Lundy's  Lane. — After  the 
battle,  the  enemy  retreated 
toward  Lake  Ontario.  While 
Gen.  Brown  was  waiting  for 
the  arrival  of  Commodore 
Chauncey's  fleet  to  cooperate 
with  him  against  Fort  George, 
the  British  received  re-enforce 
ments  from  Kingston  under 
Gen.  Drummond,  and  marched 
up  the  Niagara  to  the  neigh 
borhood  of  the  Falls,  4,500 
strong.  Scott's  brigade,  numbering  1,200,  sent  out  to 
threaten  Fort  George  in  ignorance  of  the  enemy's  move 
ments,  toward  sunset  on  the  25th  of  July  unexpectedly 
found  itself  confronted  by  the  whole  British  army. 

Scott  hesitated  not  to  give  battle.    The  main  body  came 


THE 

NIAGARA 

FRONTIER. 


1814]  BATTLE   OF   LUNDY's   LANE.  225 

up  to  his  support ;  and  there,  at  Lundy's  Lane,  or  Bridge- 
water,  the  roar  of  artillery  drowning  that  of  the  great  cat 
aract,  took  place  one  of  the  hottest  engagements  of  the  war. 
The  issue  of  the  battle  turned  on  the  capture  of  a  British 
battery  posted  011  a  hill.  It  was  carried  in  gallant  style, 
and  held  against  repeated  attempts  to  recapture  it,  by 
Colonel  Miller,  whose  answer,  "  I  will  try,  sir,"  when  asked 
whether  he  could  take  it,  has  become  proverbial.  Near 
midnight  the  conflict  terminated  in  a  victory  for  the  Amer 
icans.  Scott's  praises  were  on  every  tongue. 

Generals  Brown  and  Scott  were  so  severely  wounded  that 
they  had  to  be  removed  to  the  American  side.  Their  suc 
cessor  in  command,  throwing  away  all  the  advantages  that 
had  been  gained,  withdrew  his  men  to  Fort  Erie.  Here  they 
were  besieged  by  the  British,  again  re-enforced.  A  night- 
attack  of  the  enemy  was  repulsed  with  severe  loss,  and  a 
well-planned  sortie  on  the  17th  of  September  completed 
their  discomfiture.  Four  days  afterward,  Drummond  beat  a 
hasty  retreat  to  Chippewa.  The  approach  of  cold  weather 
rendering  further  operations  in  that  quarter  impracticable, 
Fort  Erie  was  blown  up  in  November,  and  the  American 
army  recrossed  the  Niagara  River. 

Battle  of  Lake  Champlain. — In  the  summer  of  1814,  the 
British,  having  concentrated  14,000  men  near  the  foot  of 
Lake  Charnplain,  undertook  an  invasion  of  the  States,  some, 
what  on  the  plan  of  Burgoyne  in  1777.  There  had  been 
skirmishing  throughout  the  season  ;  but  when  in  August 
most  of  the  American  troops  were  transferred  to  the  Niag 
ara  frontier,  Gen.  Prevost  improved  the  opportunity  to 
march  upon  Plattsburg  (September  1-7). 

Here  Gen.  Macomb  (m<%-7coomf),  in  command  of  the 
Americans,  had  made  all  the  preparation  in  his  power  for  a 
vigorous  defence  ;  but  he  had  only  2,000  efficient  men  and 
lacked  ordnance,  while  his  works  were  still  incomplete. 
Commodore  McDonough  had  also  strained  every  nerve  to 


220  MADISON'S  ADMINISTRATION.  [1814 

make  ready  for  the  British  fleet,  which  was  to  act  in  con 
junction  with  the  army.  His  flag- ship  was  launched  within 
forty  days  from  the  time  that  the  trees  used  in  its  construc 
tion  were  standing  in  the  forest.  Despite  all  his  exertions, 
however,  in  the  number  of  his  vessels,  guns,  and  men,  he 
was  inferior  to  the  enemy. 

The  British  army,  having  reached  Plattsburg,  was  there 
held  in  check  -by  Macomb,  who,  strengthened  by  the  brave 
militia  of  Vermont  and  New  York,  had  taken  a  position  on 
the  south  side  of  the  Sar'anac  River.  But  the  fate  of  the 
expedition  was  to  be  decided  on  the  water.  On  the  llth  of 
September,  the  British  flotilla  drew  near  to  Plattsburg,  and 
McDonough  joined  battle,  after  having  on  the  deck  of  his 
vessel  invoked  the  blessing  of  God  upon  his  cause.  Two 
hours  of  terrible  fighting  resulted  in  a  victory  for  the  Amer 
icans  as  signal  as  Perry's  on  Lake  Erie.  The  British  com 
mander,  who  had  boasted  that  with  his  flag-ship  alone  he 
could  whip  the  whole  Yankee  fleet,  was  killed,  and  his  entire 
squadron  struck.  While  this  glorious  victory  was  being 
gained  on  the  lake,  the  British  army  had  made  several  at 
tempts  to  drive  Macomb  from  his  position,  but  without  suc 
cess.  Prevost  became  alarmed,  and  under  the  cover  of  night 
made  a  disorderly  retreat,  leaving  behind  his  stores  and 
wounded,  besides  2,000  deserters.  So  ended  his  invasion  of 
New  York. 

British  Descent  on  the  Coast.— Simultaneously  with  Pre- 
vost's  expedition,  important  movements  were  made  by  the 
British  on  the  Atlantic  coast.  A  fleet  conveying  an  army  of 
veterans  arrived  off  Virginia  in  August,  and  there  separated 
— one  division  ascending  the  Potomac  and  Patuxent,  and 
the  other  sailing  up  Chesapeake  Bay.  Both  Washington 
and  Baltimore  were  threatened.  Commodore  Barney,  who 
had  been  trying  to  check  the  depredations  of  the  enemy  on 
the  Chesapeake,  had  to  burn  his  little  fleet  in  the  Patuxent 
(see  Map,  p.  268),  and  then  as  the  invaders,  5,000  strong, 


1814]  BRITISH   DESCENT   ON   THE   COAST.  227 

moved  up  the  river,  retired  before  them  with  his  400  seamen. 
Gen.  Winder  (wme'der)  had  hastily  collected  what  forces  he 
could  for  the  defence  of  the  capital.  He  attempted  to 
withstand  the  invaders  at  Bla'densburg,  six  miles  north-east 
of  Washington  (August  24th)  ;  but  his  raw  militia  soon 
gave  way,  and  Barney's  gallant  sailors  were  too  few  to  make 
any  effectual  resistance.  That  same  evening  the  British 
general,  Ross,  entered  Washington,  whence  the  officials  and 
many  of  the  inhabitants  had  fled  in  dismay,  and  fired  the 
Capitol,  the  president's  house,  the  treasury -building,  and  the 
arsenal.  After  this  wanton  destruction  of  property,  the  in 
vaders  returned  to  their  ships.  The  inefficiency  displayed  at 
Washington  during  these  operations  brought  down  a  storm 
of  public  odium  on  the  administration.  The  seaboard  cities, 
exposed  to  like  attacks,  were  greatly  alarmed,  and  some  of 
them  made  active  preparations  for  defence. 

Attack  on  Baltimore. — The  British  next  sailed  to  Balti 
more,  which  city  they  particularly  desired  to  punish  in  re 
turn  for  the  blows  inflicted  on  their  commerce  by  its  fast- 
sailing  "  clippers."  The  attack  was  expected  ;  for  days  the 
citizens  had  been  laboring  on  the  defences,  and  10,000  men 
were  ready  to  meet  the  invaders.  While  part  of  the  British 
fleet  moved  up  the  Patapsco  to  attack  Fort  McHenry,  which 
commands  the  channel  two  miles  from  the  city,  the  army 
landed  at  North  Point,  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  twelve 
miles  below  (September  12th). 

On  the  march  to  Baltimore,  a  skirmish  with  some  Amer 
ican  sharp-shooters  took  place,  in  which  Gen.  Ross  was 
slain.  The  British,  however,  continued  to  advance,  till  they 
came  within  reach  of  the  American  artillery.  A  spirited  ac 
tion  then  ensued,  which  resulted  in  the  Americans'  falling 
back  to  a  new  position  nearer  their  intrenchments.  Here 
they  awaited  the  enemy  the  following  morning;  but  the 
enemy  had  little  relish  for  continuing  the  attack.  Their 
fleet  had  been  so  roughly  handled  at  Fort  McHenry  that  it 


228 


MADISON  S   ADMINISTRATION. 


[1814 


was  thought  best  to  let  Baltimore  alone.  The  next  night 
was  dark  and  rainy,  and  under  its  cover  they  retreated  to 
their  shipping. 

It  was  during  the  bombardment  of  the  fort  that  Francis 
S.  Key,  an  anxious  spectator  of  the  battle  from  an  Amer 
ican  vessel,  uncertain  in  the  darkness  whether  the  stars  and 
stripes  still  waved,  composed  "The  Star-spangled  Banner," 
the  national  song  dear  to  every  American. 

The  South-west  had  not  been  overlooked  in  the  enemy's 
plans  for  1814.  In  September,  a  party  of  British  and  In 
dians  attacked  the  fort  at  the  entrance  of  Mobile  Bay,  but 
were  repulsed.  They  had  been  allowed  to  fit  out  their  ex 
pedition  in  the  Spanish  port  of  Pensacola  ;  and  Gen.  Jack 
son,  the  hero  of  the  Creek  War,  made  reprisals  by  invading 
Florida  with  some  mounted  Tennesseans  and  taking  the 
city  just  named.  Thence  he  hastened  to  New  Orleans, 
where  a  panic  prevailed  in  consequence  of  a  threatened  at 
tack  by  the  British  army  from  the  Chesapeake,  re-enforced 
from  Europe. 

Battle  of  New  Orleans.  —  By  his  energetic  measures, 
Jackson  now  showed  the  stuff  of  which  he  was  made.  The 
British  having  landed  on  a  bayou  communicating  with  Lake 

Borgne  (born)  and  ad 
vanced  to  within  nine 
miles  of  the  city,  he  fell 
upon  them  at  night  (De 
cember  23d),  and  taught 
them  that  they  had  un 
dertaken  no  easy  task. 
His  line  of  defence  was 
four  miles  below  the 
city.  Here,  with  the 
deadly  riflemen  of  the 
South-west,  particular 
ly  his  trusted  Teniies- 


G  UL  F     OF     MEXICO 


NEW  OBLEANS  AND  TUB  VICINITY. 


1815] 


BATTLE   OF   NEW   ORLEANS. 


229 


seans,  he  repulsed  a  fierce  attack  of  the  enemy  on  the  28th 
of  December,  and  on  the  1st  of  January  following  responded 
with  telling  effect  to  the  heavy  British  batteries  planted 
within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  his  works. 

A  general  assault  on  Jackson's  line  was  made  on  the  8th 
of  January.  In  vain  Wellington's  veterans,  led  by  Gen. 
Pakenham,  second  only  to  Wellington  himself  among  the 
British  military  leaders,  tried  to  scale  the  American  breast 
works  ;  they  were  mowed  down  by  scores.  There  was  no 
standing  in  the 
face  of  such  a 
murderous  fire. 
Pakenham  fell ; 
nearly  every  offi 
cer  was  disabled. 
The  assailants, 
hopelessly  defeat 
ed,  with  a  loss  of 
two  thousand  men 
retreated  to  their 
boats.  The  Amer 
icans  lost  but  27  in 
killed  and  wound 
ed.  Jackson  was 
hailed  by  a  grate 
ful  country  as  the 
saviour  of  New 
Orleans. 

Close  of  the  War. — Meanwhile,  on  the  24th  of  Decem 
ber,  a  treaty  of  peace  between  Great  Britain  and  the  United 
States  had  been  signed  at  Ghent,  in  Belgium.  The  British 
commissioners,  at  first  unreasonable  in  their  demands,  had 
lowered  their  tone  after  the  defeats  at  Plattsburg  and  Balti 
more.  Though  no  concessions  were  made  on  the  impress 
ment  question,  the  announcement  of  peace  was  received 


EQUESTBIAN  STATUE  OF  JACKSON,  NEW  ORLEANS. 


230 

with  delight  throughout  the  land,  and  the  treaty  was  ratified 
by  the  Senate  on  the  18th  of  February.  Party-feeling  had 
all  along  run  high  against  the  war,  and  some  uneasiness  had 
been  created  in  December  by  the  assembling  of  delegates 
from  the  New  England  States  at  Hartford.  It  was  feared 
that  the  Hartford  Convention  might  take  some  action  look 
ing  toward  the  restoration  of  peace  to  New  England,  with 
out  reference  to  the  rest  of  the  country  ;  but  such  appre 
hensions  were  unfounded. 

After  the  War. — The  war,  of  course,  left  the  finances  of 
the  country  in  a  deplorable  state — the  treasury  exhausted, 
a  heavy  debt  outstanding,  specie  scarce,  and  business  de 
pressed.  As  a  relief-measure,  Congress  in  1816  chartered 
the  Bank  of  the  United  States,  the  old  national  bank  having 
ceased  to  exist  five  years  before.  This  institution,  with  its 
various  branches,  provided  the  nation  with  a  currency  re 
deemable  in  gold  or  silver.  . 

There  remains  to  be  chronicled  under  Madison's  adminis 
tration  a  brief  war  with  Algiers,  growing  out  of  renewed 
depredations  on  American  commerce.  Decatur  brought  the 
pirates  to  terms,  and  made  Tunis  and  Tripoli,  also,  pay  for 
American  vessels  which  the  British  had  been  allowed  to  take 
in  their  harbors. 

Indiana  became  a  member  of  the  Union  in  1816. 


ABSTRACT    OF   THE     PRINCIPAL    EVENTS    OF    THE    WAR 
OF     1812. 

Follow  the  directions  given  with  the  similar  Abstract  on  p.  198. 
1812.  War  declared  against  Great  Britain,  June  18.  Hull  invades  Cana 
da,  July  12.  Capture  of  Mackinaw,  July  17.  Hull  retreats,  Aug. 
7,  8.  Essex  captures  the  Alert,  Aug.  13.  Massacre  at  Ft.  Dear 
born,  Aug.  15.  Hull's  surrender,  Aug.  16.  Constitution  takes 
the  Guerriere,  Aug.  19.  Battle  of  Queenstown,  Oct.  13.  Wasp 
takes  the  Frolic,  and  is  taken  by  the  Poictiers,  Oct.  18.  Frigate 
United  States  takes  the  Macedonian,  Oct.  25.  Constitution  takes 
the  Java,  Dec.  29. 


THE   WAR   OF    1812.  231 

1813.  Battle  of  the  Raisin  River,  Mich.,  and  surrender  of  Winchester, 
Jan.  22.     Hornet  takes  the  Peacock,  Feb.  24.     Americans  capt 
ure  York,  Canada,  Apr.  27.     Siege  of  Ft.  Meigs,  May  1-9.    Ameri 
cans  capture  Ft.  George,  May  2*7.     British  descent  on  Sackett's 
Harbor,  May  29.     Com.  Porter's  cruise  on  the  Pacific.     Shannon 
takes  the  Chesapeake,  June  1.     Attack  on  Ft.  Stephenson,  Aug.  2. 
Argus  taken,  Aug.  14.     Massacre  at  Ft.  Minims,  Ala.,  Aug.  30. 
Enterprise  takes  the  Boxer,  Sept.  5.     Battle  of  Lake  Erie,  Sept. 

10.  Battle  of  the  Thames,  Oct.  5.     Battle  of  Tallushatchee,  Nov. 
2.     Battle  of  Talladega,  Nov.  9.     Battle  of  Chrysler's  Field,  Nov. 

11.  Americans  evacuate  Ft.  George,  Dec.  10.     British  take  Ft. 
Niagara,  Dec.  19. 

1814.  Battle  of  Emucfau,  Ala.,  Jan.   22.      Battle  of  Great  Horseshoe 
Bend,  March  27.     U.  S.  frigate  Essex  taken,  March  28.     Wilkin 
son's  second  invasion  of  Canada,  March  30.     Peacock  takes  the 
Epervier,  Apr.  29.     Wasp  takes  the  Reindeer,  June  28.     Ameri 
cans  capture  Ft.  Erie,  July  3.     Battle  of  Chippewa,  July  5.     Bat 
tle  of  Lundy's  Lane,  July  25.     Assault  on  Ft.  Erie  repulsed,  Aug. 
15.     Battle  of  Bladensburg,  Aug.  24.     British  burn  public  build 
ings  at  Washington,  Aug.  24.     Wasp  sinks  the  Avon,  Sept.  1. 
Battle  of  Plattsburg,  Sept.  11.     Battle  near  Baltimore,  Sept.  12. 
Bombardment  of  Ft.  McHenry,  Sept.  13.     American  sortie  from 
Fort  Erie,  Sept.    17.      British  land  near  New  Orleans,  Dec.  22. 
Jackson's  night-attack,  Dec.  23. 

1815.  Battle  of  N.  0.,  Jan.  8.     American  frigate  President  taken,  Jan. 
15.     "Old  Ironsides"  takes  two  British  ships,  Feb.  20.     Hornet 
takes  the  Penguin,  March  23.    PEACE  PROCLAIMED,  Feb.  18. 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

AFTER    THE    WAR   OF   1812. 

MONROE'S  ADMINISTRATION,  1817-1825. 

James  Monroe,  of  Virginia,  succeeded  Madison  in  the 
presidency  on  the  4th  of  March,  1817,  and  Daniel  D.  Tomp- 
kins,  of  New  York,  became  vice-president.  For  his  secre 
tary  of  state  Monroe  selected  John  Quincy  Adams,  son  of 


232 


MONKOE  8    ADMINISTRATION. 


[1817 


the  second  president,  and,  after  the  war,  minister  of  the 
United  States  at  the  British  court. 

Internal  Improvements. — The  importance  of  public  im 
provements  for  developing  the  western  country  was  gener 
ally  recognized  ;  but  there  was  a  difference  of  opinion  as  to 
the  propriety  of  the  general  government's  engaging  in  such 
works.  Appropriations,  however,  were  made  by  Congress 
for  constructing  several  military  roads,  and  especially  a 
great  national  highway  over  the  Alleghariies.  Nor  did  the 
individual  states  overlook  the  necessity  of  encouraging  en 
terprises  for  their  own  internal  improvement. 

In  works  of  this  kind,  New  York  took  the  lead,  Through 
the  efforts  of  De  Witt  Clinton,  for  several  years  her  governor, 
the  construction  of  a  canal  to  connect  the  Great  Lakes  at 


\ 


FIKST  BOAT  ON  THE  ERIE  CANAL. 

Buffalo  with  the  Hudson  at  Albany,  and  thus  virtually  with 
the  Atlantic  seaboard,  was  undertaken  by  the  state.  The 
Erie  Canal  was  363  miles  in  length,  crossed  the  Mohawk 
River  twice,  and  cost  nearly  $8,000,000.  When  the  first  boat 
passed  over  it,  there  were  great  rejoicings,  for  it  was  felt 
that  a  new  era  of  commercial  prosperity  was  dawning  on 


1819]  PURCHASE   OF   FLORIDA. 

the  state.     The  Erie  Canal  was  begun  and  completed  in  the 
same  years  with  Monroe's  administration. 

A  triumph  in  navigation,  of  a  different  kind,  was  also 
connected  with  this  period.  It  was  in  1819  that  the  first 
ocean-steamer,  the  Savannah,  crossed  the  Atlantic. 

Florida. — On  the  borders  of  Georgia  and  Alabama,  but 
in  the  Spanish  territory  of  Florida,  lived  the  Seminoles. 
The  neighboring  American  settlements  across  the  line  hav 
ing  suffered  from  the  depredations  of  these  Indians,  Gen. 
Jackson  was  sent  to  restore  security  to  the  frontier  (1817). 
The  Seminoles  were  soon  punished,  but  Jackson  went  further. 
Finding  that  the  Indians  had  been  incited  by  the  Spanish 
and  supplied  with  arms  by  two  British  traders,  he  summarily 
hanged  the  latter,  and  seized  the  Spanish  forts  at  St.  Mark's 
and  Pensacola. 

Trouble  seemed  likely  to  follow  from  these  acts,  which 
were  condemned  by  many  even  of  Jackson's  own  country 
men.  But  the  representations  made  by  Mr.  Adams  satisfied 
Great  Britain  ;  and  Spain  was  induced,  not  only  to  overlook 
the  invasion  of  her  territory,  but  also  (1819)  to  cede  the 
whole  province  to  the  United  States,  on  the  promise  of  the 
latter  to  pay  claims  of  American  citizens  on  the  Spanish 
government  amounting  to  $5,000,000.  When  Spain  sur 
rendered  possession  of  Florida  in  1821,  it  was  organized 
into  a  territory  ;  and  Gen.  Jackson  was  made  its  first  gov 
ernor. 

Five  New  States  were  admitted  during  Monroe's  adminis 
tration  :  Mississippi,  in  1817  ;  Illinois,  in  1818  ;  Alabama, 
which  had  formed  part  of  Mississippi  Territory,  in  1819  ; 
Maine,  before  embraced  in  Massachusetts,  in  1820  ;  and  Mis 
souri,  set  off  from  the  Louisiana  Purchase,  in  1821. 

The  admission  of  Missouri  gave  rise  to  angry  debate 
as  to  whether  she  should  come  in  as  a  free  or  slave  state. 
The  North  demanded  that  slavery  should  be  prohibited 
within  her  limits  ;  but  her  people  desired  slavery,  and  many 


234 

insisted  that  every  state,  on  its  admission,  had  the  right  to 
say  whether  it  should  be  slave  or  free.  After  much  dis 
cussion  the  question  was  settled,  chiefly  through  Clay's 
efforts,  by  the  MISSOURI  COMPROMISE,  which  remained  in 
force  till  1854.  This  bill  provided  that  Missouri  should 
come  in  as  a  slave  state  ;  that  states  formed  thereafter  from 
territory  south  of  36°  30',  the  latitude  of  Missouri's  southern 
boundary,  might  be  slave  or  free  as  they  should  decide  for 
themselves  on  being  admitted,  but  that  north  of  that  line 
the  institution  should  not  be  allowed. 

The  South  American  Republics. — The  eloquence  of  Hen 
ry  Clay,  "Kentucky's  favorite  son,"  also  persuaded  Con 
gress  to  recognize  the  independence  of  the  South  American 
republics.  Governed  for  many  years,  as  we  have  seen,  by 
Spanish  viceroys  and  with  no  gentle  hand,  they  had  profited 
by  the  example  of  the  United  States,  and  thrown  off  the 
yoke  of  the  mother-country.  We  may  with  advantage 
glance  for  a  moment  at  their  history. 

The  first  colonies  to  revolt  were  Chili  and  Buenos  Ayres 
(bo'nos  a'riz) ;  from  the  latter,  Uruguay  (oo-roo-gwi'),  Para 
guay  (pah-rah-gwif),  and  the  Argentine  (ar'jen-teen)  Re 
public,  were  ultimately  formed.  A  similar  movement  hav 
ing  been  made  in  the  northern  provinces,  the  republic  of 
Colombia  was  established  in  1819,  with  Simon  Bolivar,  just 
ly  called  "  the  Liberator  of  South  America,"  as  its  president.* 
From  Colombia,  Venezuela  (ven-ez-weflah)  and  Ecuador 
(ek-wah-dor1)  were  afterward  set  off.  Last  of  all,  Peru  took 
up  arms,  and  with  the  aid  of  the  Colombians  drove  out  the 
Spaniards.  Upper  Peru  became  a  separate  republic  in  1825, 
and  was  named  Bolivia  in  honor  of  the  pure-minded  patriot 
who  had  devoted  his  life  to  securing  the  independence  of  the 
Spanish  provinces — the  Washington  of  South  America. 

*  It  will  be  a  profitable  exercise  for  the  student  to  copy  the  outline  of 
South  America  from  the  Map  on  page  34,  and,  by  comparing  with  a  modern 
map,  to  mark  in  the  boundaries  of  the  countries  here  named. 


1822]  THE   SPANISH-AMERICAN   REPUBLICS.  235 

Thus  the  whole  continent  south  of  the  Isthmus  enjoyed 
the  blessings  of  a  free  government,  except  the  colonies  of 
Guiana,  the  barren  Patagonia,  and  the  empire  of  Brazil. 
Brazil,  by  a  revolution  in  1822,  established  its  independence 
of  Portugal,  but  retained  its  monarchical  government. 

Central  America  became  infected  with  the  same  spirit. 
In  1823,  the  five  Spanish  colonies  composing  it  formed  them 
selves  into  a  federal  republic  of  independent  states,  which 
lasted  sixteen  years.  Since  the  dissolution  of  this  union, 
other  confederations  have  been  formed  and  dissolved ;  the 
Central  American  republics  now  constitute  separate  states. 

Though  the  subsequent  history  of  these  Spanish- Amer 
ican  countries  presents  a  painful  record  of  assassinations, 
revolutions,  and  civil  wars,  yet  their  condition  is  better  than 
it  was  under  Spanish  rule,  and  some  of  them  have  progressed 
rapidly  in  education  and  the  industrial  arts.  This  is  espe 
cially  true  of  Chili  and  the  Argentine  Republic,  to  which 
European  emigrants  have  been  attracted.  It  was  in  connec 
tion  with  the  South  American  republics  that  the  president 
put  forth  the  famous  MONROE  DOCTRINE,  that  "the  Amer 
ican  continents  were  thenceforth  not  to  be  considered  as 
subjects  for  colonization  by  any  European  power." 

The  last  year  of  Monroe's  prosperous  administration  was 
signalized  by  a  visit  from  America's  old  and  true  friend, 
Lafayette,  who  had  seen  stirring  times  in  France  since  he 
sheathed  his  sword  after  helping  to  secure  American  liberty. 
He  made  a  tour  through  the  country,  and  was  everywhere 
honored  as  the  nation's  guest. 

Monroe  had  been  elected  for  a  second  term  with  little 
opposition.  At  its  close  there  were  four  candidates  for  the 
succession  ;  Gen.  Jackson  received  the  greatest  number  of 
votes,  but  not  a  majority,  though  John  C.  Calhoun  of  South 
Carolina  was  chosen  vice-president.  The  election,  therefore, 
devolved  on  the  House  of  Representatives,  which  bestowed 
the  presidency  on  John  Quincy  Adams  of  Massachusetts. 


236  JOHN    QUINCY   ADAMS.  [l825 

ADMINISTRATION    OF    JOHN    QUINCY   ADAMS,    1825-29. 

John  Q,uincy  Adams  was  qualified  for  his  high  office  by 
an  extended  experience  in  various  official  positions.  Much 
of  his  life  had  been  passed  at  European  courts,  as  a  boy 
with  his  father  John  Adams,  and  afterward  as  the  representa 
tive  of  his  country  in  the  Netherlands,  Portugal,  Prussia, 
Russia,  and  Great  Britain.  Henry  Clay  served  throughout 
his  term  as  secretary  of  state. 

Protective  Tariff. — President  Adams  favored  a  high  pro 
tective  tariff  ;  and,  according  to  his  views,  in  1828  the  duties 
on  imported  cotton  and  woollen  goods  and  other  manufact 
ured  articles  were  increased.  This  was  of  advantage  to  the 
North,  largely  engaged  in  manufacturing  industry,  because 
it  prevented  foreign  goods  from  underselling  those  produced 
at  home  ;  but  it  was  violently  opposed  at  the  South,  where 
the  planters  were  made  to  pay  just  so  much  more  for  arti 
cles  of  common  use.  At  Charleston  the  flags  were  placed 
at  half-mast  when  it  was  announced  that  the  bill  had  passed. 

National  Bereavements. — The  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the 
declaration  of  independence,  July  4,  1826,  witnessed  the 
death  of  two  of  the  fathers  of  the  republic — John  Adams 
and  Thomas  Jefferson,  the  one  at  the  ripe  age  of  ninety,  the 
other  eighty-two.  In  1828,  New  York  suffered  the  loss  of 
one  to  whom  she  may  always  point  with  pride — De  Witt  Clin 
ton,  already  mentioned  as  the  projector  of  the  Erie  Canal. 

Mr.  Adams  failed  to  obtain  the  presidency  for  a  second 
term,  and  surrendered  it  to  Gen.  Jackson,  who  was  elected 
his  successor.  Calhoun  was  continued  in  the  vice-presi 
dency. 

JACKSON'S  ADMINISTEATION,  1829-1837. 

Andrew  Jackson  was  born  in  1767,  in  the  Waxhaw  set 
tlement,  near  the  line  that  divides  the  two  Carolinas.  Re 
moving  to  Nashville  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  he  had  become 
identified  with  Tennessee,  and  had  deserved  well  of  his  coun- 


1829]  JACKSON'S  ADMINISTRATION.  237 

try  in  all  the  important  trusts  she  had  confided  to  his  care. 
He  was  a  man  of  inflexible  will,  and  in  his  administration 
showed  the  same  self-reliant  energy  that  had  saved  New 
Orleans  from  the  British. 

Jackson  made  Martin  Van  Buren,  of  New  York,  his 
secretary  of  state.  He  introduced  the  practice  which  has 
been  followed  by  his  successors,  of  removing  officials  of  the 
opposite  party  and  filling  their  places  with  those  of  the 
same  political  principles  as  himself. 

Nullification  Troubles. — We  learned  that  the  tariff  adopt 
ed  during  the  preceding  administration  was  extremely  dis 
tasteful  to  the  South  ;  a  new  one  passed  by  Congress  in 
1832  was  still  more  so.  In  South  Carolina  the  bill  was 
declared  unconstitutional,  and  it  was  resolved  to  prevent  its 
enforcement  in  the  port  of  Charleston  by  armed  resistance 
or  by  withdrawing  from  the  Union  ;  while  in  Congress  the 
right  of  individual  states  to  nullify  acts  of  Congress  was 
openly  maintained. 

The  leading  Nullifiers  were  Hayne,  of  South  Carolina, 
and  John  C.  Calhoun,  who  had  resigned  the  vice-presidency 
for  a  seat  in  the  Senate  that  he  might  be  heard  on  this  im 
portant  question.  Daniel  Webster,  expounding  the  Consti 
tution  on  the  other  side,  denied  the  right  to  nullify,  and 
declared  liberty  and  union  one  and  inseparable. 

So  strong  was  the  feeling  on  this  subject  that  the  Union 
was  threatened  with  dissolution  ;  but  Jackson  declared  that 
it  must  and  should  be  preserved,  and  ordered  troops  to 
Charleston,  The  Nullifiers  then  deferred  their  intended 
action,  and  the  difficulty  was  finally  settled  by  a  compro 
mise  bill  introduced  by  Clay,  which  provided  for  gradual 
reductions  of  the  tariff  extending  through  ten  years.  Clay's 
action  alienated  many  of  the  tariff-men.  He  was  warned 
that  it  would  cost  him  the  presidency  ;  "  I  would  rather  be 
right  than  be  president,"  was  his  reply. 

Difficulties  with  the  Indians  disturbed  Jackson's  admin- 


238 


JACKSON  S    ADMINISTRATION. 


[1832 


istration  not  a  little.  In  each  case  the  exciting  cause  was 
the  same — the  encroachments  of  the  whites,  and  the  reluc 
tance  of  the  Indians  to  give  up  lands  which  they  or  their 
fathers  had  sold  or  ceded  by  treaty.  First  came 

BLACK  HAWK'S  WAR. — Black  Hawk  was  a  chief  of  the 
Sacs  and  Foxes,  who  refused  to  leave  his  hunting-grounds 
on  the  Mississippi,  though  they  had  been  bought  by  the 

United  States  some  years 
before.  The  militia  of 
Illinois  were  called  out 
to  protect  the  settlers 
who  had  purchased  these 
lands,  and  Black  Hawk 
retreated  into  what  is 
now  Iowa.  In  the  spring 
of  1832,  however,  he  re- 
crossed  the  Mississippi ; 
and  his  followers,  sepa 
rating  into  squads,  rav 
aged  the  whole  Rock 
River  country  (see  Map). 
Gen.  Scott  was  sent 
against  them  ;  but  at 
Chicago,  the  cholera,  then  epidemic  and  very  fatal  in  the 
United  States,  broke  out  among  his  troops,  and  he  was  un 
able  to  reach  the  scene  of  action.  The  Indians,  however, 
were  driven  north  to  the  Wisconsin  River,  defeated  in  two 
battles,  and  removed  to  a  reservation  near  the  present  capi 
tal  of  Iowa.  Thither  also  in  time  went  Black  Hawk,  who 
had  been  captured,  and  was  convinced  by  a  visit  to  the  east 
ern  cities  that  resistance  to  the  pale-faces  was  hopeless. 

THE  CHEROKEES. — Similar  troubles  arose  in  Georgia. 
There  the  Cherokees,  15,000  in  number,  had  made  advances 
in  civilization  and  established  a  republic  of  their  own.  The 
general  government  had  agreed  to  buy  the  Cherokee  lands 


o  Owatonna 
31 1  N  N  E  S  O 
Ter.l849;State.l858  ^ 


VALLEY  OF  THE  UPPEB  MISSISSIPPI. 


1835]  SEMINOLE   WAR.  239 

for  the  state  of  Georgia  and  remove  their  occupants,  but 
failed  to  do  so  ;  and,  Georgia  having  taken  the  matter  into 
her  own  hands  and  passed  laws  oppressive  to  her  Indian 
population,  the  Red  Men  appealed  to  the  president  for  pro 
tection.  He,  however,  proposed  moving  the  Cherokees  be 
yond  the  Mississippi ;  and  in  1834,  to  provide  for  this  and 
similar  cases,  Congress  set  apart  the  Indian  Territory  *  for 
the  occupancy  of  such  tribes  east  of  the  Mississippi  as  it 
might  be  desired  to  remove. 

The  Cherokees  did  not  want  to  go,  and  for  some  time 
were  proof  against  both  arguments  and  threats.  At  length, 
in  1837,  the  payment  of  $5,000,000  and  the  firm  tone  of  Gen. 
Scott,  who  was  charged  with  their  removal,  induced  them  to 
yield. 

THE  SEMINOLE  WAE,  in  Florida,  was  the  most  serious. 
It  commenced  in  1835  with  massacres  planned  by  the  crafty 
chief  Osceo'la,  and  was  continued  into  the  next  administra 
tion.  At  first  the  Indians  gained  some  advantages,  and  car 
ried  desolation  throughout  the  peninsula,  the  settlers  being 
obliged  to  flee  to  the  forts  for  safety.  Even  when  larger 
armies  were  sent  out,  under  such  leaders  as  Scott  and  Tay 
lor,  afterward  distinguished  on  the  battle-fields  of  Mexico,  it 
was  hard  to  strike  the  Indians,  who  would  retreat  to  their 
inaccessible  everglades.  The  U.  S.  forces  suffered  much 
from  exposure  and  sickness,  but  at  length  broke  the  power 
of  the  Red  Men  in  a  hard-fought  battle  on  Christmas-day, 
1837.  Most  of  the  surviving  Seminoles  were  removed  to  In^ 
dian  Territory,  as  also  were  the  Creeks,  who  had  aided  them, 

Jackson's  Second  Term.— Though  Jackson  had  many  politi 
cal  enemies,  the  people  indorsed  his  administration,  and  re- 
elected  him  with  Martin  Van  Buren  as  vice-president.  Two 
exciting  subjects  engrossed  public  attention  during  Jack 
son's  second  term  : — 

*  Indian  Territory,  and  the  location  of  the  various  tribes  within  its  boi- 
ders,  may  be  seen  on  the  Map  on  page  261. 


24:0  JACKSON'S  ADMINISTRATION.  [1833 

First,  his  opposition  to  the  U.  S.  Bank.  The  charter  of 
this  institution  expired  in  1836  ;  Jackson  had  vetoed  a  bill 
providing  for  its  renewal,  and  in  1833  removed  the  public 
funds,  which  had  been  deposited  in  it,  and  placed  them  in 
state  banks.  The  consequence  was  alarm  and  distress  in  the 
mercantile  community.  Strenuous  efforts  were  made  to  in 
duce  "  Old  Hickory "  to  recede  from  his  position ;  but  he 
stood  firm,  and  confidence  gradually  revived  in  business 
circles. 

Second,  his  peremptory  tone  toward  France,  which  led 
that  country  to  pay  $5,000,000,  due  according  to  agreement, 
for  injuries  done  to  American  commerce  during  Napoleon's 
wars.  This  decided  course  gained  for  the  United  States  the 
respect  of  European  powers. 

Political  Matters. — We  have  now  to  mention  only  the 
admission  of  Arkansas  as  a  state  in  1836,  that  of  Michigan 
the  following  year,  and  the  election  of  Martin  Van  Buren  as 
Jackson's  successor.  The  supporters  of  Jackson  and  Van 
Buren,  known  as  "  Democrats,"  were  the  successors  of  the 
old  republican  party.  The  "  Whigs,"  in  whom  the  federal 
ists  had  become  merged,  voted  for  Gen.  Harrison.  Richard 
M.  Johnson,  of  Kentucky,  was  chosen  vice-president  by  the 
Senate,  there  being  no  election  to  that  office  by  the  people. 

VAN  BUREN'S  ADMINISTRATION,  1837-1841. 

Martin  Van  Buren  was  born  at  Kinderhook,  N.  Y.,  in 
1782,  and  was  a  lawyer  by  profession.  Besides  the  official 
positions  he  has  already  been  mentioned  as  holding,  he  had 
been  a  member  of  the  U.  S.  Senate,  governor  of  New  York, 
and  minister  to  Great  Britain. 

A  Business  Revulsion,  which  brought  ruin  on  thousands, 
occurred  early  in  Van  Buren's  administration  (1837).  Specu 
lation  had  been  rampant,  importations  ruinously  large  ;  busi 
ness  had  been  too  much  expanded,  and  an  unsound  credit- 
system  prevailed.  The  banks  were  obliged  to  suspend  specie 


1837]  VAN  BUREN'S  ADMINISTRATION.  241 

payments  ;  a  commercial  panic  and  failures  to  an  enormous 
amount  were  the  consequence.  Congress  in  vain  tried  to 
relieve  the  country  ;  the  recovery  was  slow. 

To  prevent  a  recurrence  of  such  evils  and  insure  the 
safety  of  the  public  funds,  Van  Buren  recommended  his 
famous  Sub-treasury  scheme,  which  received  the  sanction  of 
Congress  in  1840.  Since  then  the  public  money,  in  stead  of 
being  deposited  in  banks,  has  been  kept  in  the  Treasury  at 
Washington,  and  in  offices  in  the  chief  cities  of  the  Union 
known  as  Sub-treasuries,  under  the  custody  of  officers  who 
give  bonds  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  their  trust. 

Insurrection  in  Canada. — Friendly  relations  with  Great 
Britain  were  endangered  in  1837  by  an  insurrection  which 
broke  out  in  Canada.  The  people  of  the  United  States 
sympathized  with  the  movement,  and  some  New  Yorkers 
even  went  so  far  as  to  seize  an  island  in  the  Niagara  River 
for  the  purpose  of  aiding  the  insurgents.  A  neutrality -proc 
lamation  from  the  president,  however,  and  prompt  measures 
on  the  part  of  Gen.  Wool,  who  was  sent  to  the  Niagara 
frontier,  preserved  the  peace.  Gen.  Scott  was  equally  suc 
cessful  in  the  north-east,  where  the  disputed  line  between 
Maine  and  New  Brunswick  had  also  given  rise  to  difficulties 
with  Great  Britain. 

Railroads. — Meanwhile  the  application  of  steam  in  the 
locomotive  had  wonderfully  facilitated  travelling  and  com 
merce.  George  Stephenson,  an  ingenious  English  engineer, 
was  the  benefactor  of  the  human  race  who  first  made  the 
locomotive  a  practical  success.  His  experiments  covered 
several  years,  beginning  with  1814. 

The  first  railroad  in  the  United  States,  built  in  1826,  was 
used  in  carrying  granite  from  the  quarries  at  Quincy,  Mass.  ; 
the  first  locomotive  was  imported  in  1829.  The  following 
}7ear,  a  locomotive,  the  first  successful  one  ever  constructed 
in  this  country,  was  produced  at  Baltimore,  and  was  used 
for  the  transportation  of  passengers  on  what  is  now  the  Bal- 
11 


242 


VAN    BUREN  S    ADMINISTRATION". 


1837 


timore  and  Ohio  Rail 
road.  The  same  year, 
the  Mohawk  and  Hud 
son  Railroad  was  be 
gun  between  Albany 
and  Schenectady,  and 
in  1832  a  load  was 
drawn  over  it  at  the  rate  of  thirty  miles  an  hour.  From 
this  time  roads  multiplied  rapidly  ;  and  when  the  revulsion 
of  1837  occurred,  more  miles  of  railway  were  in  operation 
in  the  United  States  than  in  any  other  country.  Since 
then,  of  course,  great  improvements  have  been  made.  The 
simple  engine  and  plain  carriage  originally  used  do  not  look 
much  like  the  powerful  locomotives  and  costly  cars  of  the 
present  day. 

HARBISON'S  AND  TYLER'S  ADMINISTRATION,  1841-5. 

The  Whigs  successful. — The  financial  difficulties  under 
which  the  country  had  labored  being  charged  by  many  to 
the  administration,  Van  Buren  was  not  re-elected.  The 
Whigs  had  nominated  Gen.  William  H.  Harrison,  whose  mili 
tary  services  the  country  remembered  with  gratitude.  Sec 
ond  on  their  ticket  was  John  Tyler  of  Virginia,  who  had  been 
governor  of  that  state  and  also  represented  it  in  the  U.  S. 
Senate.  The  presidential  campaign  was  an  exciting  one. 
Log  cabins  and  hard-cider  barrels  figured  largely  in  it,  as 


1841]  TYLER'S  ADMINISTRATION.  243 

emblematical  of  Harrison's  plain  farmer-life  in  Ohio,  and  the 
song  of  "  Tippecanoe  and  Tyler  too  "  rang  through  the  land. 
The  Whig  nominees  were  elected  by  a  large  majority. 

Tyler  becomes  President. — After  selecting  his  cabinet, 
at  the  head  of  which  was  Daniel  Webster,  President  Harri 
son  died,  just  one  month  after  his  inauguration.  This  melan 
choly  event  devolved  the  presidency  on  Mr.  Tyler. 

The  first  important  question  that  arose  under  Tyler  was 
the  establishment  of  a  U.  S.  Bank.  The  friends  of  such  an 
institution,  though  defeated  under  Jackson,  had  never  given 
up  their  favorite  measure,  and  in  1841  they  secured  a  ma 
jority  in  Congress.  Two  bills,  chartering  a  national  bank, 
were  successively  passed,  but  they  were  both  vetoed  by  the 
president.  Tyler  thus  lost  the  support  of  his  party. 

Internal  Disturbances. — After  the  settlement  of  the  boun 
dary  between  Maine  and  New  Brunswick  by  Webster  and 
Lord  Ashburton  in  1842,  friendly  relations  were  maintained 
with  foreign  powers  throughout  Tyler's  term,  but  disturb 
ances  occurred  in  some  of  the  states. 

DORR'S  REBELLION  troubled  Rhode  Island  in  1842.  It 
grew  out  of  the  efforts  of  a  portion  of  the  people,  calling 
themselves  "  the  Suffrage  Party,"  to  change  the  old  constitu 
tion  which  had  been  in  force  for  nearly  two  centuries,  and 
make  Thomas  W.  Dorr,  one  of  their  partisans,  governor. 
Recourse  was  had  to  arms,  and  U.  S.  troops  were  called  in 
before  the  outbreak  was  put  down. 

ANTI-RENT  DIFFICULTIES  arose  in  New  York.  The  Van 
Rensselaers,  who  had  for  generations  held  a  large  tract  in 
Rensselaer  County,  originally  obtained  under  the  old  patroon 
arrangement  (p.  54),  had  divided  their  lands  into  farms, 
which  they  had  leased  at  nominal  rates — a  few  bushels  of 
wheat  or  fat  fowls  per  year.  Small  as  the  rent  was,  the 
tenants,  who  had  come  to  regard  themselves  as  the  rightful 
owners,  refused  to  pay  it  and  resisted  legal  processes.  The 
disturbances  spread  to  other  counties,  where  lands  were  held 


244  TYLER'S  ADMINISTRATION.  [1844 

on  a  like  tenure.  It  was  not  till  the  militia  were  called  out 
(1846)  and  some  of  the  leading  Anti-renters  were  taken  and 
punished,  that  peace  was  restored. 

MORMON  TROUBLES  agitated  Illinois.  The  Mormons,  or 
"Latter-Day  Saints,"  originated  with  Joseph  Smith,  who 
professed  to  have  received  a  divine  revelation  in  his  "  Book 
of  Mormon."  Their  creed,  allowing  polygamy,  or  a  plurality 
of  wives,  was  not  very  moral,  nor  were  their  practices  any 
more  so  ;  therefore,  when  about  1,200  of  them  settled  in 
Missouri,  the  Missourians  drove  them  out.  They  crossed 
to  Illinois,  and  there  in  1840  founded  the  city  of  Nauvoo  on 
the  bank  of  the  Mississippi. 

Various  crimes  were  charged  upon  the  Mormons,  and 
collisions  soon  occurred  with  the  authorities  of  Illinois. 
Smith  and  his  brother  were  arrested,  and  while  in  jail  killed 
by  a  mob.  Popular  feeling  became  so  strong  against  the 
sect  that  they  could  not  remain  in  Illinois,  but  migrated 
westward.  They  finally  settled  in  Utah  Territory,  and  built 
their  capital  and  temple  on  the  borders  of  Great  Salt  Lake. 
Here,  under  the  leadership  of  Brigham  Young  and  joined 
by  immigrants  from  Europe  as  well  as  from  the  States,  they 
have  grown  into  a  powerful  community.  "  Gentiles,"  as  the 
Mormons  call  outsiders,  attracted  by  the  mineral  riches  of 
the  territory,  have  lately  helped  to  populate  Utah,  though 
their  coming  was  at  first  discouraged. 

New  States.— Florida  became  a  state  in  1845.  Iowa,  ad 
mitted  at  the  same  time,  did  not  enter  the  Union  until  the 
following  year. 

The  Annexation  of  Texas  was  provided  for  during  Tyler's 
term.  This  event  requires  us  to  glance  at  what  had  taken 
place  in  Mexico  since  the  beginning  of  the  century. 

The  oppression  of  Spanish  officials  led  the  Creoles,  or 
native  Mexicans,  after  the  royal  family  of  Spain  had  been 
dethroned  by  Napoleon,  to  make  an  effort  for  their  inde 
pendence.  The  first  insurrectionary  movement,  begun  in 


1844]  TYLER'S  ADMINISTRATION.  245 

1810,  failed  ;  a  second,  in  1821,  succeeded.  Gen.  Iturbide 
(e-toor'be-dd),  under  whom  the  revolution  was  effected,  hav 
ing  been  proclaimed  emperor  and  assumed  arbitrary  power, 
was  finally  put  to  death  by  those  who  favored  a  free  gov 
ernment  ;  and  under  Santa  Anna  and  Victoria,  who  next 
rose  to  the  head  of  affairs,  a  federal  republic  was  formed. 
One  by  one,  we  have  seen  Spain  lose  all  her  possessions  on 
the  mainland  of  America  :  Louisiana,  by  cession  to  France ; 
Florida,  by  sale  to  the  United  States  ;  her  South  American 
provinces,  Mexico,  and  Central  America,  by  revolution. 
Cuba  and  Porto  Rico  are  about  all  that  remains  to  her  of 
her  once  proud  domain  in  the  New  World. 

Texas  had  been  a  province  of  Mexico,  largely  colonized 
by  Americans.  Oppressed  by  the  government,  the  Texans 
had  declared  their  independence,  and  had  virtually  estab 
lished  it  after  a  hard  struggle,  closed  in  1836  with  the  battle 
of  San  Jacinto.  On  this  sanguinary  field  Santa  Anna  was 
signally  defeated  by  Gen.  Sam  Houston  (hew' stun),  after 
ward  president  of  Texas  and  U.  S.  Senator.  The  American 
population  of  "the  Lone  Star*  Republic,"  having  rapidly 
increased,  in  1844  desired  to  be  admitted  into  the  Union  ; 
and,  the  people  of  the  United  States  having  plainly  signified 
their  wishes  on  the  sub 
ject,  Texas  was  annexed 
in  1845. 

Election  of  Polk,  —The 
annexation  of  Texas  was 
made  the  issue  at  the 
presidential  election  of 
1844.  The  democrats, 

*  The  "  lone  star,"  the  em 
blem  of  the  republic,  has,  since 
her  admission  into  the  Union 
galaxy,  been  adopted  as  the  de 
vice  on  her  state  seal.  STATE  SEAL'OF'TEXAS. 


24:6  FOLK'S  ADMINISTRATION.  [1845 

with  James  K.  Polk  as  their  standard-bearer,  declared  in 
favor  of  that  measure  ;  the  whigs  and  their  favorite  leader, 
Henry  Clay,  opposed  it.  Polk  was  successful,  and  George 
M.  Dallas,  of  Pennsylvania,  was  chosen  vice-president. 

Magnetic  Telegraph. — The  proceedings  of  the  conven 
tion  that  nominated  Mr.  Polk  were  transmitted  from  Balti 
more  to  Washington  by  the  MAGNETIC  TELEGRAPH,  the  suc 
cess  of  which  was  demonstrated  by  these  first  dispatches. 
For  this  great  invention  in  its  simplest  practical  working- 
form,  the  world  is  indebted  to  Samuel  F.  B.  Morse,  a  native 
of  Massachusetts  ;  it  may  be  ranked  among  the  crowning 
triumphs  of  human  ingenuity.  Telegraph-wires  were  soon 
threading  the  country  in  all  directions,  and  now  hand  in 
hand  with  the  railroad  they  unite  the  Atlantic  with  the  Pa 
cific. 

FOLK'S   ADMINISTRATION,    1845-1849. 

James  Knox  Polk  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  but  a 
resident  of  Tennessee,  of  which  state  he  had  been  governor. 
James  Buchanan,  of  Pennsylvania,  served  as  his  secretary  of 
state. 

War  with  Mexico  resulted,  as  a  matter  of  course,  from 
the  annexation  of  Texas,  for  the  Mexican  government  had 
never  recognized  the  independence  of  the  latter.  The  old 
south-western  boundary  of  Texas  had  been  the  Nueces 
(nwa'ses)  River,  but  the  Texans  had  claimed  to  the  Rio 
Grande  (re'o  grahn'da — great  river  •  see  Map,  p.  249)  :  and 
when  the  United  States  offered  to  adjust  the  boundary  by 
negotiation,  Mexico  rejected  the  proposal  with  contempt. 
The  U.  S.  government,  therefore,  directed  Gen.  Zachary  Tay 
lor,  "old  Rough  and  Ready,"  as  he  was  nicknamed,  here 
tofore  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  Seminole  War,  to 
occupy  the  disputed  territory.  This  he  did  with  a  small 
force,  taking  post  at  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande — a  move 
ment  which  Mexico  accepted  as  a  declaration  of  war. 

We  must  reserve  the  history  of  the  Mexican  War  for 


1846] 


POLK  S    ADMINISTRATION. 


247 


another  chapter. 
Meanwhile,  in 
June,  1846,  the 
North-west  Boun 
dary  question, 
which  had  threat 
ened  to  produce  a 
rupture  with  Great 
Britain,  was  ami 
cably  settled.  The 
49th  parallel  of  lat 
itude  and  the  Strait 
of  San  Juan  de 
Fuca  (sahn  whahn 
da  foo'kah)  were 
adopted  as  the  di 
viding  line. 


SCENE  IN  MEXICO. 


REVIEW    BY    DATES. 


Continue  the  CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD  from  page  192,  according  to  the 
following  hints.  Let  the  topics  be  assigned  in  turn  to  different  pupils,  and 
treated  exhaustively. 


1781  (Four  battles). 

"  (Surrender). 

1783  (Treaty). 

1787  (Rebellion). 

"  (Constitution). 

1789  (First  president). 

1790  (Gen.  Harmer). 

1791  (Gen.  St.  Clair). 
"  (Discovery). 

1792  (Invention). 
1794  (Gen.  Wayne). 

"  (Rebellion). 

1799  (Death). 

1800  (Capital). 
"  (Treaty). 

1803  (War.  Purchase.) 


1807  (Burr). 

"  (Steamboat). 

1808  (Slave-trade). 

1811  (Battle). 

1812  (War.  Surrender.) 
"  (Land  battle). 

"  (Naval  battles). 

1813  (Land  battles). 
"     (Naval  battles). 

"     (Indian  camp'gn). 

1814  (Land  battles). 
"  (Naval  battles). 
"  (Convention). 

1815  (Land  battle). 

"  (Naval  battles). 
"  (Peace). 


1817  (War.  Canal.) 

1819  (Purchase). 

1821  (Compromise). 

1826  (Death). 

1830  (Locomotive). 

1832  (War). 

"  (Epidemic). 

"  (Nullification). 

1835  (War). 

1836  (Battle  in  Texas). 

1837  (Revulsion). 

"  (Insurrection). 

1841  (Death). 

1842  (Boundary). 
"  (Rebellion). 

1845  (Annexation). 


24:8  THE   MEXICAN   WAR.  [l846 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

THE    MEXICAN    WAR. 

IN  treating  of  the  Mexican  War,  we  may  consider  first 
the  movements  on  the  frontier  under  Gen.  Taylor  ;  next,  the 
operations  in  the  north  and  west  directed  against  Upper  Cal 
ifornia  ;  and,  finally,  the  march  upon  the  capital,  which  ended 
the  contest. 

TAYLOK'S  CAMPAIGN. 

Movements  on  the  Rio  Grande. — We  left  Gen.  Taylor  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande,  opposite  Matamo'ras.  Here 
Gen.  Ampudia  (ahm-poo1 'de-aJi)  by  the  middle  of  April, 
1846,  had  collected  a  large  body  of  Mexicans,  and  soon 
afterward  a  reconnoitring  party  of  Americans  was  cut  off. 
The  news  awakened  intense  excitement  in  the  United  States  ; 
and,  when  a  call  was  made  for  50,000  volunteers,  four  times 
that  number  offered. 

Gen.  Taylor  had  left  a  garrison  in  charge  of  his  supplies 
on  the  Gulf,  twenty  miles  farther  north,  at  Point  Isabel'. 
The  Mexicans  beginning  to  swarm  across  the  Rio  Grande, 
there  was  danger  of  their  getting  in  his  rear  and  taking  this 
post.  So,  leaving  a  few  brave  men  to  hold  the  fort  he  had 
erected,  afterward  called  Fort  Brown,  he  marched  to  Point 
Isabel'  with  his  main  body.  The  necessary  arrangements 
for  its  defence  having  been  made,  he  then  set  out  with  a 
provision-train  on  his  return,  and  on  reaching  Palo  Alto 
(pah'lo  ahl'to),  May  8,  1846,  found  a  Mexican  army  nearly 
three  times  as  large  as  his  own  drawn  up  across  his  path. 

There  was  a  hard  struggle,  but  Taylor  was  completely 
victorious.  And  so  he  was  the  following  day,  at  Resaca  de 
la  Palma  (ra-sah'kah  da  lah  pahl'maTi),  where  the  defeated 
Mexicans  again  disputed  his  passage.  It  was  here  that  Cap 
tain  May  and  his  dragoons  brilliantly  charged  up  to  the 


1846] 


CAPTURE  OF  MONTEREY. 


249 


Mouth  of 
Faeces  B. 


muzzles  of  the  enemy's  guns,  and  made  prisoner  one  of 
their  generals  in  the  act  of  applying  a  match.  The  Mexi 
cans  after  their  discomfiture  fled  in  confusion  across  the  Rio 
Grande,  while  Taylor 
reached  his  fort  in 
safety,  to  the  great 
relief  of  its  defenders. 
Eight  days'  bombard 
ment  during  his  ab 
sence  had  severely 
tried  the  mettle  of 
the  little  garrison. 

Capture  of  Monte 
rey. —  Gen.  Taylor 
now  carried  the  war 
across  the  Rio 
Grande,  taking  Mata- 
moras,  and  one  place 
after  another,  till  he 
reached  the  fortified 
and  well-garrisoned 
city  of  Monterey 
(mon-ta-rar).  This 
stronghold  was  car 
ried  by  storm  Sep 
tember  23d,  Worth, 
Quitman,  Butler,  and  Taylor  himself,  animating  their  men  to 
prodigies  of  valor.  Saltillo  (sahl-teel'yo)  and  Victoria  were 
next  occupied.  At  this  juncture  Taylor  received  orders  to 
send  the  greater  part  of  his  troops  to  Gen.  Scott,  who  was 
preparing  for  a  campaign  farther  south,  to  fall  back  on  Mon 
terey,  and  merely  hold  the  ground  already  gained. 

Buena  Vista. — It  was  mortifying  to  Gen.  Taylor  to  be 
thus  stopped  in  his  career  of  victory,  but  like  a  good  soldier 
he  obeyed.  The  flower  of  his  forces,  with  many  recruits 


EASTERN  COAST  OF  MEXICO. 


250  THE   MEXICAN   WAR.  [l847 

whom  Gen.  Wool  had  been  drilling  into  efficiency,  were  soon 
on  their  way  to  swell  Scott's  army.  Santa  Anna  meanwhile 
had  become  president  of  the  republic.  Taylor  and  Wool 
now  seemed  to  be  at  his  mercy,  and  he  hastened  to  crush 
them  with  20,000  men. 

Taylor,  however,  was  not  the  man  to  be  crushed.  In  a 
narrow  pass  at  Buena  Vista  (bwa'nah  vees'tati)  he  awaited 
the  approaching  Mexicans,  with  about  one-fourth  of  their 
number.  All  day  the  battle  raged.  In  spite  of  their  over 
whelming  numbers  and  persistent  charges,  the  enemy  were 
held  in  check  by  the  artillery  of  the  Americans,  and  finally 
they  were  driven  from  the  field  (February  23, 1847).  Santa 
Anna  withdrew  during  the  night,  abandoning  his  dead  and 
wounded.  Thus  gloriously  ended  Taylor's  campaign.  The 
Rio  Grande  frontier  was  secured. 

OPERATIONS    IN   NORTHERN   MEXICO. 

Kearny  and  Doniphan. — Simultaneously  with  Gen.  Tay 
lor's  operations,  important  movements  had  been  made  for 
the  purpose  of  reducing  the  northern  provinces  of  Mexico. 
The  U.  S.  "  Army  of  the  West,"  under  Gen.  S.  W.  Kearny 
(kar'ne),  started  in  June,  1846,  from  Fort  Leavenworth,  and 
after  a  march  of  900  miles  occupied  Santa  Fe  (./«),  the  cap 
ital  of  New  Mexico.  Here  a  new  government  was  organized 
without  opposition. 

Intelligence  that  California  was  already  in  the  possession 
of  his  countrymen  decided  Kearny  not  to  take  his  whole 
force  thither;  so,  pushing  on  himself  to  the  Pacific  coast 
with  only  a  few  cavalry -men,  he  left  Colonel  Don'iphan  with 
the  main  body  to  overrun  the  country  southward,  and  effect 
a  junction  with  Taylor's  army.  The  energetic  Doniphan 
carried  out  his  programme,  and  reached  Saltillo  in  safety, 
after  a  march  of  a  thousand  miles  through  the  heart  of  the 
enemy's  country,  and  two  victories  over  armies  greatly  out 
numbering  his  own.  Kearny,  though  in  imminent  danger 


1846]  FREMONT   IN   CALIFORNIA.  251 

from  overwhelming  forces  of  Mexicans,  accomplished  his 
purpose  with  equal  success,  arriving  in  time  to  take  part  in 
the  closing  battle,  which  completed  the  establishment  of 
American  power  in  Upper  California  (January  8,  1847). 

Fremont,  "  the  Pathfinder  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,"  had 
revolutionized  California,  and  cooperating  with  Commodore 
Stockton,  who  opportunely  appeared  off  the  coast,  had  al 
most  subdued  it,  before  Kearny  arrived.  He  had  been  en 
gaged  in  explorations  in  this  quarter  prior  to  the  war,  and, 
learning  of  hostile  intentions  on  the  part  of  the  Mexican 
governor  toward  the  American  settlers  on  the  Sacramento 
River,  he  had  induced  the  latter  to  declare  their  indepen 
dence.  When  news  was  received  of  the  commencement  of 
hostilities  between  the  two  countries,  and  that  a  IT.  S.  fleet 
had  arrived,  the  stars  and  stripes  were  substituted  for  the 
grizzly  bear  which  adorned  the  flag  of  independent  Califor 
nia.  The  Mexicans,  in  their  attempts  to  crush  Fremont  and 
his  followers,  had  been  repeatedly  defeated,  and  after  the 
battle  in  which  Kearny  took  part  gave  up  the  contest. 

SCOTT'S  CAMPAIGN. 

Capture  of  Vera  Cruz.— Victory  had  thus  far  favored  the 
American  arms  in  every  battle  ;  but  it  was  felt  that,  to 
bring  the  Mexicans  to  terms,  their  capital  must  be  taken, 
and  this  task  was  assigned  to  Gen.  Winfield  Scott,  the  vet 
eran  of  Lundy's  Lane.  Assuming  the  chief  command  in 
Mexico,  Gen.  Scott,  on  the  12th  of  March,  1847,  made  a 
landing  with  12,000  men  at  Vera  Cruz  (for  the  various  places 
mentioned,  see  Map,  p.  249).  This  city  was  defended  by  a 
castle  of  great  strength,  which  had  frowned  on  the  waters 
of  the  Gulf  for  more  than  two  centuries  ;  but  both  city  and 
castle  succumbed  before  Gen.  Scott's  guns. 

The  March  on  the  Capital — Vera  Cruz  taken,  Scott  at 
once  began  his  march  into  the  interior.  His  route  led  him 
over  the  lofty  Cordilleras,  up  steep  ascents,  and  through 


252 


THE   MEXICAN    WAR. 


[1847 


GENERAL  Scorr  AT  VESA  CKCZ. 


difficult  passes  which  afforded  every  opportunity  for  defence, 
and  which  in  some  cases  he  was  obliged  to  carry  at  the  point 
of  the  bayonet  ;  but  his  march  was  one  series  of  victories. 
We  find  him  successively  at  Cerro  (sZr'ro)  Gordo,  routing 
Santa  Anna,  who  fled  in  such  haste  as  to  leave  his  wooden 
leg  behind — seizing  the  strong  castle  of  Perote  (pa-ro'ta) 
on  a  towering  peak — and  occupying  the  ancient  city  of 
Puebla  (pweb'lah—Mny  15th). 

After  a  brief  halt  at  this  point,  Gen.  Scott,  re-enforced, 
continued  his  march  over  a  succession  of  table-lands  toward 
the  city  of  Mexico.  Santa  Anna  had  concentrated  his  forces 
in  and  about  the  capital,  the  approaches  to  which  for  a  dis 
tance  of  ten  miles  the  Americans  found  defended  by  a  chain 
of  well-planned  works.  To  take  these  required  incredible 
exertions,  but  nothing  could  withstand  the  impetuous 
charges  of  the  assailants.  The  struggle  began  on  the  20th 
of  August.  The  batteries  at  Contreras  (kon-tra 'rahs],  the 
well-garrisoned  post  of  San  Antonio,  the  heights  of  Churu- 


1847]  CAPTURE  OF  THE  CAPITAL.  253 

busco  (ch<>f>-ro»-boos'ko),  the  strong  position  of  Molino  del 
Key  (mo-le'no  del  ra — king's  mill),  and  finally  Chapultepec 
(chahrpool'ta-pek)^  "the  monarch  fortification  of  the  valley 
of  Mexico,"  were  successively  taken — Worth,  Quitman,  Pil 
low,  Twiggs,  Shields,  Pierce,  Cadwallader,  and  Persifer 
Smith,  vying  with  each  other  in  gallantry. 

Mexico  taken. —  On  the  14th  of  September,  Gen.  Scott 
made  his  triumphal  entry  into  the  Aztec  capital,  after  a  cam 
paign  that  has  had  few  parallels  in  history.  Santa  Anna 
and  the  remnant  of  his  army  had  fled  from  the  city  the  pre 
ceding  night.  The  Mexican  general  made  his  escape  to  the 
West  Indies,  and  those  whom  he  left  in  authority  were  quite 
ready  to  give  up  the  contest.  A  treaty  was  agreed  on,  and 
peace  was  proclaimed  July  4,  1848. 

The  Treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo  (fjirah-dah-loop'a  he- 
daM'yo),  which  closed  the  war,  provided  that  Mexico  should 
make  over  to  the  United  States  California  and  New  Mexico, 
as  well  as  her  claim  to  the  disputed  territory  between  the 
Nueces  and  the  Rio  Grande.  The  United  States  was  to  pay 
for  the  vast  tract  thus  ceded  $15,000,000,  and  to  assume 
debts  due  from  Mexico  to  American  citizens  to  the  amount 
of  83,500,000.  The  Gadsden  purchase  five  years  afterward 
secured  to  the  United  States  another  piece  of  northern  Mex 
ico,  south  of  the  Gila  (he'lah)  River. 

These  acquisitions  completed  the  territory  of  the  United 
States  as  at  present  constituted,  with  the  exception  of  Alas 
ka,  at  the  north-western  extremity  of  the  continent,  bought 
from  Russia  in  1867  for  $7,200,000.  By  referring  to  the 
Map  on  the  next  page,  the  student  can  see  the  extent 
of  the  country  at  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  the 
several  tracts  that  have  been  subsequently  added,  and  the 
names  of  the  states  that  have  been  formed  from  them  re 
spectively. 

California. — The  value  of  the  territory  first  ceded  by 
Mexico  was  little  suspected  at  the  time  ;  but  in  January, 


I        V 


1848]  FOLK'S  ADMINISTRATION.  255 

1848,  a  discovery  was  made  which  startled  the  world,  and 
showed  that  the  United  States  had  indeed  gained  a  prize. 
In  a  bed  of  sand  deposited  by  the  waters  of  the  American 
River,  a  tributary  of  the  Sacramento,  were  found  some  glit 
tering  particles  that  proved  to  be  gold.  An  abundance  of 
the  precious  metal  was  soon  discovered  in  the  neighborhood. 
The  excited  people  deserted  their  ranches,  and  hastened  to 
the  favored  spot  with  picks  and  pans.  The  news  spread  to 
the  States,  was  borne  over  the  Atlantic,  crossed  the  Pacific 
to  distant  China,  and  attracted  hundreds  of  emigrants  from 
all  lands  to  California.  Within  four  years  the  population 
reached  a  quarter  of  a  million.  San  Francisco,  from  a  vil 
lage  of  a  few  mean  huts,  assumed  the  proportions  of  a  nour 
ishing  city.  Gold  was  found  in  various  quarters.  In  twenty 
years  the  yield  amounted  to  $900,000,000.  The  supply  is 
still  unexhausted,  averaging  about  $20,000,000  annually. 

Wisconsin  was  added  to  the  Union  in  1848,  and  the  fol 
lowing  March  Minnesota  Territory  was  organized.  Rail 
roads  were  rapidly  developing  the  West,  and  cities  spring 
ing  up  as  if  by  magic.  The  Map  on  page  238  shows  the 
situation  of  some  of  the  states  formed  from  the  Louisiana 
Purchase,  with  a  few  of  their  principal  cities  and  the  dates 
at  which  they  were  founded. 

Political  Matters. — An  attempt  to  exclude  slavery  from 
territory  that  might  be  acquired  by  the  war,  had  been  made 
as  early  as  1846.  The  Wilmot  Proviso,  so  called  from  its 
proposer,  had  been  rejected  by  Congress  ;  but  a  party  was 
organized,  under  the  name  of  "  Free-Soilers,"  to  support  the 
principle  it  involved.  They  brought  into  the  field,  as  their 
presidential  candidate  at  the  next  election,  Ex-President 
Van  Buren.  The  democrats  nominated  Gen.  Lewis  Cass, 
U.  S.  senator  from  Michigan  ;  the  whigs,  Gen.  Taylor,  whose 
faithful  services  in  Mexico  gave  him  strong  claims  on  the 
nation.  Taylor  was  elected,  and  at  the  same  time  Millard 
Fillmore,  of  New  York,  became  vice-president. 


256  EVENTS    OF   THE    MEXICAN    WAK. 

ABSTRACT    OF    THE     PRINCIPAL     EVENTS    OF    THE 
MEXICAN     WAR. 

Use  as  a  review  in  the  way  heretofore  directed. 

1846.  Mexicans  commence  hostilities,  capturing  Captain  Thornton,  Apr.  26. 
Gen.  Taylor  defeats  Gen.  Arista  (ah-rees'tah)  at  Palo  Alto,  May  8. 
Gen.  Taylor  defeats  Gen.  Arista  at  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  May  9. 
Fort  Brown  bombarded  by  Gen.  Ampudia,  May  2-9. 

Congress  formally  declares  that  war  exists,  May  11. 

Taylor  takes  possession  of  Matamoras,  May  18. 

Revolutionary  movements  in  California,  July,  August. 

Taylor  takes  Monterey  from  Ampudia,  Sept.  24.  [Dec.  25. 

Col.  Doniphan  defeats  Gen.  Ponce  de  Leon  at  Bracito  (brah-the'to) 

1847.  Battle  of  San  Gabriel  (sahn  gah-'bre-d '),  California,  Jan.  8. 
Taylor  defeats  Santa  Anna  at  Buena  Vista,  Feb.  23. 

Col.  Doniphan  defeats  Gen.  Trias  (tre'ahs)  at  Sacramento,  Feb.  28. 

Gen.  Scott  lands  at  Yera  Cruz,  March  9. 

Vera  Cruz  and  the  adjacent  castle  surrender  to  Scott,  March  27. 

Scott  defeats  Santa  Anna  at  Cerro  Gordo,  Apr.  18.  [May  15. 

Scott  takes  Jalapa  (hah-lali pah},  Apr.  19 ;  Perote,  Apr.  22  ;  Puebla, 

Scott  defeats  Gen.  Valencia  at  Contreras,  Aug.  20. 

Scott  defeats  Santa  Anna  at  Churubusco,  Aug.  20. 

Worth  takes  San  Antonio,  Aug.  20. 

Worth  defeats  Gen.  Alvarez  (ahl'vah-reth)  at  Molino  del  Rey,  Sept.  8. 

Heights  of  Chapultepec  carried  by  the  Americans,  Sept.  13. 

Americans  enter  the  capital  in  triumph,  Sept.  14. 

1848.  Treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo  signed,  Feb.  2. 

Peace  proclaimed  in  the  United  States  by  President  Polk,  July  4. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 
TAYLOR,   FILLMORE,   PIERCE,   BUCHANAN. 

TAYLOR'S  ADMINISTRATION,  1849-1850. 

President  Taylor  was  a  resident  of  Louisiana,  though  he 

had  been  born  in  Virginia  and  reared  in  Kentucky.     He  had 

never  held  any  political  position,  but  in  his  military  career 

had,  as  we  have  seen,  been  eminently  successful.     John  M. 


1849]  TAYLOR'S  ADMINISTRATION.  257 

Clayton,  of  Delaware,  was  appointed  secretary  of  state. 
The  vice-president  was  a  New  Yorker  by  birth  and  resi 
dence.  He  had  attained  distinction  at  the  bar,  and  served 
in  Congress. 

Slavery  Discussions. — During  this  administration,  the 
Union  was  shaken  to  its  centre  by  exciting  discussions  on 
questions  connected  with  the  territory  recently  acquired 
from  Mexico.  California,  peopled  with  unexampled  rapidity, 
asked  to  be  admitted  as  a  state,  with  a  constitution  prohibit 
ing  slavery.  But  part  of  its  territory  was  south  of  the  line 
fixed  by  the  Missouri  Compromise  ;  its  admission  as  a  free 
state  would  give  the  North  a  preponderance  of  votes  in  the 
Senate,  and  would  be  the  signal,  so  the  Southern  leaders 
declared,  for  the  disruption  of  the  Union.  Then  it  was  that 
Henry  Clay  came  forward  a  second  time  as  the  great  peace 
maker,  advocating  concession  and  forbearance  with  an  elo 
quence  that  melted  every  heart,  and  inducing  Congress,  after 
long  debate,  to  pass  a  compromise  bill  that  settled  all  the 
important  points  at  issue. 

The  Omnibus  Bill,  as  it  was  called,  provided  that  Califor 
nia  should  be  admitted  as  a  free  state  ;  that  $10,000,000 
should  be  paid  to  Texas,  in  consideration  of  her  giving  up 
all  claim  to  New  Mexico  ;  that  New  Mexico  and  Utah,  which 
had  before  been  without  governments,  should  be  organized 
as  territories  with  no  restrictions  as  to  slavery  ;  that  the  re 
turn  of  fugitive  slaves  should  be  insured  by  a  more  rigorous 
law  ;  and  that  the  slave-trade  should  be  abolished  in  the 
District  of  Columbia. 

National  Bereavements.— While  the  pulse  of  the  nation 
was  still  beating  high  under  the  excitements  of  the  slavery 
agitation,  President  Taylor  died  (July  9,  1850).  Mr.  Fill- 
more  succeeded  to  the  presidency,  and  Clayton  gave  way  to 
Daniel  Webster  as  secretary  of  state. 

Nor  was  the  loss  of  the  president  the  only  affliction  that 
tried  the  nation  about  this  time.  There  had  been  three 


258 


THE  LEADERS  OF  THE  SENATE. 


[1850 


great  statesmen  acknowledged  for  years  as  leaders,  though 
never  called  by  politicians  to  the  highest  office — Calhoun, 
the  champion  of  state s'-rights  and  Southern  interests — Clay, 
the  idol  of  the  West — and  Webster,  the  giant  intellect  of 
New  England.  Seldom  has  any  deliberative  body  listened 
to  eloquence  that  could  rival  the  close  and  vehement  reason 
ing  of  Calhoun,  the  persuasive  and  infectious  enthusiasm  of 
Clay,  or  Webster's  grand  diction  and  trenchant  arguments. 
One  after  another,  these  bright  ornaments  of  the  Senate 
passed  away  ;  Calhoun  shortly  before  the  president's  death, 
Clay  and  Webster  during  the  succeeding  administration,  in 
1852. 

FILLMOKE'S  ADMINISTRATION,  1850-1853. 

Foreign  Relations. — After  Fillmore's  signature  to  the 
Omnibus  Bill  had  for  a  time  settled  the  slavery  question,  his 
term  was  undisturbed,  except  by  temporary  troubles  with 
Spain  and  Great  Britain. 

In  the  former  case,  "  filibusters  "  under  Gen.  Lopez,  fitting 
out  an  expedition  in  the  United  States  contrary  to  law,  and 
making  a  descent  on  Cuba  for  the  purpose  of  revolutionizing 
it,  came  near  embroiling  our  government  with  Spain.  Lopez 


1851]  FILLMOKE'S  ADMINISTRATION.  259 

was  defeated  and  executed  at  Havana.  Soon  afterward, 
France  and  England,  fearing  that  the  United  States  had  de 
signs  on  Cuba,  asked  this  country  to  unite  with  them  in  a 
"  tripartite  treaty  "  guaranteeing  the  possession  of  that  isl 
and  to  Spain.  Edward  Everett,  of  Massachusetts,  Webster's 
successor  as  secretary  of  state,  while  disavowing  all  inten 
tion  of  infringing  on  the  rights  of  Spain,  declined  to  enter 
into  any  such  agreement,  and  reiterated  the  Monroe  doctrine 
in  the  most  emphatic  terms. 

The  misunderstanding  with  Great  Britain,  having  refer 
ence  to  the  right  of  fishing  on  the  Banks  of  Newfoundland, 
was  amicably  settled  by  negotiation. 

When  the  time  approached  for  another  presidential  elec 
tion,  Gen.  Winfield  Scott  was  put  in  nomination  by  the 
whigs  ;  Franklin  Pierce,  of  New  Hampshire,  by  the  demo 
crats.  The  latter,  with  William  R.  King,  of  Alabama,  his 
fellow-candidate,  was  elected. 

PIEECE'S  ADMINISTRATION,  1853-1857. 

President  Pierce  had  been  a  successful  lawyer  in  his  na 
tive  state,  which  he  had  represented  in  both  houses  of  Con 
gress,  and  had  also  acquitted  himself  creditably  as  a  general 
in  the  Mexican  War.  He  called  William  L.  Marcy,  of  New 
York,  to  the  first  place  in  the  cabinet. 

Foreign  Relations. — Several  important  questions  arose 
with  foreign  nations  during  this  administration.  First  came 
a  boundary-dispute  with  Mexico,  which  was  settled  by  the 
Gadsden  purchase  already  referred  to.  Next,  a  sharp  dis 
cussion  took  place  with  Austria  as  to  the  right  of  that  coun 
try  to  seize,  in  a  neutral  port,  one  of  her  subjects  who  had 
taken  part  in  the  Hungarian  Revolution,  but  had  subse 
quently  declared  his  intention  of  becoming  an  American 
citizen.  The  position  taken  by  the  United  States,  that  the 
seizure  was  unlawful,  was  established,  and  the  Hungarian  in 
question  was  given  up. 


260  PIERCE'S  ADMINISTRATION.  [1854 

The  opening  of  Japan,  before  shut  out  from  commercial 
relations  with  the  rest  of  the  world  by  its  jealousy  of  for 
eigners,  was  effected  in  1854.  A  squadron  under  Commo 
dore  Perry,  a  brother  of  the  hero  of  Lake  Erie,  having  vis 
ited  the  Japanese  waters,  the  emperor  was  induced  to  sign  a 
treaty  by  which  Americans  were  allowed  to  trade  at  certain 
ports.  The  privilege  was  subsequently  extended  to  other 
nations. 

Six  years  after,  ambassadors  bringing  the  treaty  arrived 
in  the  United  States.  They  were  received  as  guests  of  the 
nation,  and  took  back  with  them  such  impressions  of  the 
outer  world,  received  during  their  tour,  that  since  their  re 
turn  Japan  has  laid  aside  its  distrust  of  foreigners  and  seized 
with  avidity  on  the  improvements  of  other  countries.  It 
has  also  communicated  with  the  treaty-powers  by  subse 
quent  embassies,  has  sent  over  young  men  to  be  educated, 
has  organized  schools,  has  introduced  steamboats,  railroads, 
and  telegraphs,  and  under  the  new  order  of  things  is  making 
rapid  progress. 

Sectional  excitement  was  revived  with  greater  violence 
than  ever  during  Pierce's  term.  It  arose  from  the  introduc 
tion  of  a  bill  into  Congress  by  Senator  Douglas,  of  Illinois, 
providing  for  the  organization  of  a  vast  tract  west  of  Mis 
souri,  Iowa,  and  Minnesota,  into  two  territories,  Kansas  and 
Nebraska,  which  should  be  exempted  from  the  operation  of 
the  Missouri  Compromise,  and  allowed  to  come  in  as  free  or 
slave  states  according  to  the  decision  of  their  citizens  at  the 
time  of  their  admission.  This  firebrand  kindled  anew  the 
flame  of  sectional  strife  ;  but  the  friends  of  "  popular  sov 
ereignty,"  as  it  was  called,  had  a  majority  in  Congress,  and 
in  May,  1854,  passed  the  bill. 

Then  began  a  terrible  struggle  between  the  partisans 
and  opponents  of  slavery  to  secure  Kansas,  by  peopling  it 
with  settlers  in  sympathy  with  their  respective  views.  On 
the  one  hand,  antislavery  men  from  the  North-west  and  the 


1855] 


THE   KANSAS    STRUGGLE. 


261 


East  flocked  into 
the  new  territory ; 
and  on  the  other, 
Southerners  went 
in  with  their 
slaves,  while  Mis- 
sourians  were 
charged  with 
crossing  the  bor 
der  by  hundreds 
and  controlling 
the  elections.  Two 
sets  of  territorial 
officers  were 
chosen.  Anarchy, 
civil  war,  and  all 
their  attendant 
evils,  followed. 
For  two  years 

(1855-57)  "bleed-  NEBBASKA,  KANSAS,  AND  INDIAN  TERBITORY. 

ing  Kansas  "  thus  suffered,  unprotected  by  the  general  gov 
ernment;  but  at  last,  in  1861,  it  was  admitted  as  a  free 
state,  as  was  also  Nebraska  in  1867. 

Political  Affairs. — With  Clay  and  Webster,  the  old  whig 
party  passed  away.  Some  of  its  supporters,  opposed  to 
allowing  too  much  influence  in  political  matters  to  foreign 
ers,  joined  the  "American  "  party,  which  in  1856  nominated 
Mr.  Fillmore  for  the  presidency.  The  democrats,  declaring 
for  the  extension  of  slavery  wherever  it  found  its  way  by 
the  popular  voice,  named  James  Buchanan,  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  John  C.  Breckinridge,  of  Kentucky,  as  their  candidates. 
John  C.  Fremont  was  the  standard-bearer  of  the  Free-soilers, 
or  Republicans,  whose  cardinal  doctrine  was  the  exclusion 
of  slavery  from  the  territories.  Buchanan  and  Breckinridge 
were  elected,  and  inaugurated  March  4,  1857. 


262  BUCHANAN'S  ADMINISTRATION.  [1857 

BUCHANAN'S  ADMINISTRATION,  1857-18C1. 

President  Buchanan,  besides  serving  in  both  houses  of 
Congress  and  as  secretary  of  state  under  Polk,  had  repre 
sented  his  country  at  the  courts  of  St.  Petersburg  and  Lon 
don.  He  invited  Gen.  Lewis  Cass,  of  Michigan,  to  the  chief 
seat  in  the  cabinet. 

Atlantic  Telegraph. — Another  of  the  great  triumphs  that 
mark  the  world's  progress  was  achieved  during  Buchanan's 
administration.  This  was  the  completion  of  a  submarine 
telegraph  from  Newfoundland  to  Ireland.  Messages  were 
received,  and  the  feasibility  of  the  enterprise  was  proved, 
though  the  line  soon  ceased  to  work.  In  1866  another 
cable  was  successfully  laid,  and  messages  are  now  con 
stantly  transmitted  across  the  ocean  with  rapidity  and  pre 
cision. 

We  have,  besides,  to  record  a  general  business  depres 
sion  in  the  fall  succeeding  Buchanan's  inauguration  ;  also, 
the  admission  of  Minnesota  into  the  sisterhood  of  states  in 
1858,  and  Oregon  in  1859.  But  the  chief  feature  of  this 
period  was  the  continued  agitation  of  the  slavery  question. 

The  "  Dred  Scott "  Decision  of  the  U.  S.  Supreme  Court, 
in  1857,  that  slaves  could  be  carried  by  their  owners  into 
the  territories  or  free  states  without  thereby  gaining  their 
freedom,  awakened  violent  feeling  in  the  North,  and  led  to 
the  passage  of  "  Personal  Liberty  Bills  "  in  several  of  the 
states,  to  prevent  the  return  of  fugitive  slaves.  On  the 
other  hand,  "  JOHN  BROWN'S  RAID,"  in  1859,  raised  the  blood 
of  the  southern  people  to  fever-heat. 

This  attempt  to  liberate  the  slaves  by  giving  them  an 
opportunity  to  rise,  was  undertaken  by  twenty-one  men  in 
spired  and  headed  by  John  Brown,  who  had  figured  as  a 
prominent  antislavery  leader  in  Kansas.  They  succeeded 
in  seizing  the  U.  S.  arsenal  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  on  the 
Potomac,  but  were  not  supported  as  they  had  hoped  to  be, 


I860]  SECESSION   IN   THE   SOUTH.  263 

and  were  shortly  overpowered  by  a  force  of  U.  S.  marines. 
Except  two  who  escaped,  all  that  participated  in  the  move 
ment  were  either  killed  in  the  struggle,  or  taken  and  hanged; 
the  latter  fate  was  Brown's.  These  events  arrayed  section 
against  section  with  a  bitterness  that  party  leaders  and  a 
partisan  press  inflamed  almost  to  frenzy. 

Secession, — When,  then,  in  1860,  Abraham  Lincoln,  of 
Illinois,  the  candidate  of  the  republican  party,  was  elected 
to  the  presidency  (over  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  who  was  sup 
ported  by  one  wing  of  the  democracy ;  John  C.  Breckin- 
ridge,  representing  the  other  ;  and  John  Bell,  of  Tennessee, 
the  nominee  of  the  "  Constitutional  Union  Party  "),  the 
southern  leaders  regarded  it  as  a  menace  to  slavery,  and 
proceeded  to  break  up  the  Union.  Efforts  at  conciliation 
were  made  in  Congress  and  out  of  it,  by  a  Peace  Conference, 
proposed  constitutional  amendments,  etc.,  but  in  vain.  A 
convention  of  the  people  of  South  Carolina,  December  20, 
1860,  declared  the  connection  between  that  state  and  the 
Federal  Union  dissolved,  and  in  the  course  of  six  weeks  the 
example  was  followed  by  Mississippi,  Florida,  Alabama, 
Georgia,  Louisiana,  and  Texas. 

The  next  steps  were  the  withdrawal  of  the  senators  and 
representatives  of  the  seceded  states  from  Congress,  and 
the  formation  at  Montgomery,  Ala.  (Februarv  4,  1861),  of 
a  union  under  the  title  of  "  the  Confederate  States  of 
America."  Jefferson  Davis,  of  Mississippi,  an  able  officer  in 
the  Mexican  War,  and  subsequently  a  prominent  defender 
of  southern  rights  in  the  U.  S.  Senate,  was  chosen  presi 
dent,  and  Alexander  H.  Stephens,  of  Georgia,  vice-president. 
The  forts,  navy-yards,  and  arsenals,  in  the  seceded  states, 
T/ith  their  contents,  were  seized  ;  and  a  detachment  of  U.  S. 
troops  in  Texas  was  surrendered  to  the  state  authorities. 
Little  was  done  to  prevent  these  movements  by  Mr.  Bu 
chanan,  who,  on  the  4th  of  March,  1861,  gave  up  the  presi 
dential  chair  to  his  successor. 


264  THE   CIVIL   WAK.  [l861 

REVIEW   BY   DATES. 

Continue  the  CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD  from  page  247,  according  to  the 
following  suggestions.  Use  as  a  review  in  the  manner  heretofore  directed. 

1846  (War).  1850  (Deaths).  1854  (Bill  passed). 
"      (Four  battles).            "      (Cuba).  "      (Japan). 

1847  (Eight  battles).  "      (Bill  passed).  1857  (Telegraph). 

"      (Capital  taken).       1852  (Deaths).  1859  ("  Dred  Scott "). 

1848  (Treaty).  1853  (Purchase).  "      (Raid). 

"      (Discovery).  "     (Austria).  1860  (South  Carolina). 

Map,  p.  254. — Bound  the  United  States  as  constituted  at  the  close  of 
the  Revolutionary  War.  What  territory  was  organized  in  1787  ?  What 
states  have  been  formed  out  of  the  Territory  North-west  of  the  Ohio,  and 
in  what  years  respectively  ?  From  what  did  the  Ohio  River  separate  the 
Territory  North-west  of  the  Ohio  ?  What  states  were  formed  out  of  the 
Territory  South  of  the  Ohio,  and  when  ?  Out  of  what  were  Mississippi 
and  Alabama  formed  ?  When  and  how  was  Florida  obtained,  and  when 
did  it  become  a  state  ? 

What  was  the  largest  tract  obtained  by  the  United  States  by  purchase  ? 
Describe  the  situation  and  extent  of  the  Louisiana  Purchase.  What  states 
have  been  formed  from  it  ?  What  states  have  been  formed  from  the  Mexi 
can  Cession  ?  What  territories  ?  What  river  separates  the  original  Mexi 
can  Cession  from  the  Gadsden  Purchase  ?  What  territories  were  formed  in 
part  from  the  Gadsden  Purchase  ?  When  did  Minnesota  become  a  state  ? 
From  what  was  it  formed  ?  When  did  Colorado  become  a  state  ?  From 
what  was  it  formed  ? 


CHAPTER    XXX. 

THE  CIVIL    WAR,    1861-1865. 

President  Lincoln  was  a  self-made  man.  Born  in  Ken 
tucky  in  1809,  and  brought  up  in  Indiana  to  farm-labor 
which  left  him  few  opportunities  for  obtaining  an  education, 
he  had  finally  settled  in  Illinois,  studied  law,  and  attained 
political  eminence.  He  called  Wm.  H.  Seward,  of  New  York, 
to  the  department  of  state  ;  Salmon  P.  Chase,  of  Ohio,  to 
the  treasury ;  and  to  the  war  department  Simon  Cameron, 


1861]  FALL   OF   FOET   StJMTER.  265 

of  Pennsylvania,  succeeded  within  a  year  by  Edwin  M.  Stan- 
ton.  Hannibal  Hamlin,  of  Maine,  was  vice-president. 

Fall  of  Fort  Sumter. — Of  the  national  posts  within  the 
limits  of  the  seceded  states,  President  Lincoln  found  in  pos 
session  of  the  government  only  Fort  Pickens  at  Pensacola, 
the  works  at  the  Florida  Keys,  and  Fort  Sumter  in  Charles 
ton  harbor.  The  last-named  post,  held  by  Major  Anderson 
with  seventy-nine  men,  Buchanan  had  tried  to  re-enforce,  but 
the  vessel  he  sent  had  been  turned  back  by  Confederate  bat 
teries.  Lincoln  renewed  the  attempt,  but  with  no  better 
success.  The  Confederates,  regarding  the  intention  to  sup 
ply  the  fort  by  force  as  a  declaration  of  war,  summoned  Major 
Anderson  to  surrender.  He  declined,  and  Gen.  Beauregard 
(bore-gard),  who  was  in  command  of  6,000  Confederate 
volunteers  that  had  gathered  at  Charleston,  on  the  12th  of 
April  commenced  a  furious  bombardment.  Major  Anderson 
replied  to  the  fire,  but  after  thirty-four  hours  was  obliged  to 
give  up  the  unequal  contest  and  capitulate. 

The  Consequences.— News  of  the  fall  of  Sumter  created 
intense  excitement  both  north  and  south.  President  Lincoln 
at  once  called  for  75,000  men,  to  serve  for  three  months,  and 
in  the  non-slaveholding  states  his  appeal  met  with  a  hearty 
response.  Not  so,  however,  in  the  remaining  southern  mem 
bers  of  the  Union  or  the  border  states.  Virginia  formally 
seceded,  April  17th  ;  and  this  step  was  immediately  followed 
by  the  seizure  of  the  armory  at  Harper's  Ferry  and  of  the 
navy -yard  at  Norfolk.  Arkansas,  North  Carolina,  and  Ten 
nessee,  were  not  long  behind  "  the  Old  Dominion,"  making 
eleven  states  arrayed  against  the  Federal  government. 

The  people  of  Maryland  were  divided  in  sentiment,  some 
of  the  residents  of  Baltimore  sympathizing  so  strongly  with 
the  Confederates  that  they  assailed  a  body  of  Massachusetts 
troops  passing  through  that  city  for  the  defence  of  Washing 
ton  (April  19th).  The  decided  course  of  Captain  (afterward 
General)  Lyon,  who  commanded  the  U.  S.  arsenal  at  St. 
12 


266 


THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


[1861 


Louis,  checked  the  secession  movement  in  Missouri ;  while 
Kentucky,  though  not  taking  part  against  the  Union,  re 
fused  at  first  to  furnish  troops  for  its  support. 

OPERATIONS    OF    1861. 

First  Movements.  —  Immediately  after  the  secession  of 
Virginia,  large  bodies  of  southern  troops  were  thrown  up 
into  that  state,  and  Richmond  was  made  the  capital  of  the 
Confederacy.  On  the  Union  side,  volunteers  rapidly  nocked 
in,  and  Gen.  Scott  assumed  command.  The  authorities  at 
Washington  acted  with  promptness  and  energy.  Steamers 
were  bought,  and  fitted  up  as  gunboats  to  blockade  the 
southern  ports.  The  government  factories  and  founderies 
were  driven  to  the  utmost  to  produce  arms  and  ordnance, 
particularly  improved  rifled  cannon,  the  northern  arsenals 


TUB   PARROTT  EIFLED  GUN. 

having  been  nearly  emptied  of  their  supplies  during  the  pre 
ceding  administration.  The  president,  beginning  to  appre 
ciate  the  magnitude  of  the  struggle  that  was  at  hand,  called 
for  additional  men  to  serve  during  the  war  ;  and  Congress, 
summoned  for  an  extra  session,  made  ample  appropriations 
for  the  expenses  to  be  incurred. 


1861]  EARLY   BATTLES   IN   VIRGINIA.  267 

Operations  in  Virginia. — A  large  body  of  Federal  troops 
having  thus  been  brought  into  the  field,  forward  movements 
were  made  in  Virginia  about  the  same  time  at  several  dif 
ferent  points.  Gen.  Butler,  in  command  of  Fortress  Mon 
roe,  near  the  mouth  of  the  James  River  (see  Map,  p.  273), 
sent  out  a  detachment  to  surprise  a  Confederate  post  at  Lit 
tle  Bethel  ;  but  the  attempt  failed,  and  the  troops,  having 
gone  on  to  Big  Bethel,  were  there  repulsed. 

Colonel  Wallace  was  more  successful  in  a  dash  which  he 
made  on  Romney  (June  llth)  with  a  division  of  Gen.  Patter 
son's  army,  which  had  been  in  camp  in  Pennsylvania  ;  and 
shortly  after  the  main  body  marched  up  the  Shenandoah 
Valley,  the  Confederates  retiring  before  them  to  Winchester. 
Farther  west,  decisive  advantages  were  gained  for  the  Union 
cause — by  Gen.  Morris,  at  Philippi ;  *  by  Gen.  George  B. 
McClellan,  at  Rich  Mountain  and  Carrick's  Ford ;  by  Gen. 
Rosecrans,  at  Carnifex  Ferry ;  by  Gen.  Kelly,  near  Rom 
ney — and  in  subsequent  minor  engagements  ;  so  that,  by 
the  end  of  the  year,  Federal  authority  was  completely  estab 
lished  in  western  Virginia. 

BULL  RUN.— The  great  battle  of  1861,  however,  was  to 
be  fought  nearer  Washington.  To  prevent  an  advance  of 
the  Federal  troops  from  the  direction  of  this  city,  the  Con 
federates  had  concentrated  their  principal  force  under  Beau- 
regard  near  Manassas  Junction,  twenty-seven  miles  west  of 
Alexandria.  Gen.  McDowell,  sent  to  dislodge  them,  with  a 
large  army  of  volunteers,  found  them  posted  in  force  at  Bull 
Run,  and  a  desperate  battle  took  place  (July  21st). 

The  Unionists  at  first  had  the  advantage  ;  but  Gen.  Jo 
seph  E.  Johnston,  having  withdrawn  most  of  his  army  from 
Winchester  without  the  knowledge  of  Patterson,  who  had 
been  sent  expressly  to  prevent  him  from  joining  Beaure- 
gard,  reached  the  field  just  in  time  to  turn  the  tide  of  bat- 

*  The  precise  dates  of  the  different  battles  will  be  found  in  the  Abstract 
at  the  close  of  the  chapter. 


268 


BULL  KUN. — BALL'S  BLUFF. 


[1861 


tie.  Victory  almost  won  was  changed  into  a  defeat,  a  panic, 
a  rout, — which,  according  to  official  figures,  cost  the  Fed 
erals  2,952  men.  By  their  success  in  this  first  great  battle, 

the  cause  of  the 
Con  federates 
was  materially 
strengthened  in 
the  border  states. 
Washington 
was  now  in  dan 
ger  ;  and,  the 
aged  Scott  desir 
ing  to  transfer  the 
responsibilities  of 
his  position  to 
younger  shoul 
ders,  Gen.  Mc- 
Clellan,  fresh 
from  his  suc 
cesses  in  western 
Virginia,  was  in 
trusted  with  the 
command  of  the 
Army  of  the  Po 
tomac.  Regi- 

SEAT  OF  THE  CIVIL  WAE  IN  VIRGINIA  AND  THB  VICINITY.  ments  were  hur 
ried  forward,  and  the  Federals  were  soon  sufficiently  strong 
again  to  attempt  aggressive  movements.  On  the  21st  of 
October,  they  met  with  a  sanguinary  defeat  at  Ball's  Bluff, 
on  the  Potomac  above  Washington,  but  two  months  later 
were  encouraged  by  an  important  advantage  gained  at 
Dranesville,  Virginia. 

The  Struggle  in  Missouri. — Meanwhile,  though  Missouri 
had  determined  to  remain  in  the  Union,  her  governor  and 
some  of  the  state  troops  had  taken  up  arms  for  the  Confed- 


rl^town 


1861] 


OPERATIONS   EST   MISSOURI. 


269 


erate  cause.  The  restraints  of  law  were  removed,  and  vio 
lence  ran  riot  throughout  the  state.  Soon  civil  war  com 
menced  in  earnest,  Gen.  Lyon  and  Colonel  Sigel  (se'gel),  on 
the  part  of  the  Union,  making  head  as  best  they  could 
against  Gen.  Price  and  his  Missourians,  supported  by  Mc- 
Culloch  and  a  force  from  Arkansas  and  Texas. 

Victory,  for  the  most  part,  sided  with  the  Confederates. 
Gen.  Lyon  fell  at  the  head  of  his  men,  in  a  severe  action  at 
Wilson's  Creek,  August  10th.  This  was  followed,  the  next 
month,  by  the 
surrender  of 
Colonel  Mulli 
gan  and  2,640 
national  troops 
to  Gen.  Price 
and  a  superior 
force  at  Lex 
ington.  Final 
ly,  in  Novem 
ber,  a  Union 
force  from  Cai 
ro,  Illinois,  in 
an  attack  upon 
Belmont,  on 
the  Mississippi 

River,  after  driving  back  the  Confederates  and  burning 
their  camp,  suffered  heavy  loss  in  making  their  way  back  to 
the  landing-place.  Gen.  Fremont,  who  had  charge  of  the 
department  after  Lyon's  fall  until  November,  could  not  pre 
vent  the  Confederates  from  gaining  possession  of  a  great 
part  of  the  state. 

Naval  Operations. — Two  important  positions  on  the  coast 
of  Carolina  were  taken  by  naval  expeditions  fitted  out  by 
the  national  government  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  ;  the 
forts  at  Hatteras  Inlet  by  Commodore  Stringham  and  Gen. 


ALABAMA    \ 


Arkansas  Post' 


BATTLE-FIELDS  IN  THE  WEST. 


270  THE   CIVIL   WAE.  [l861 

Butler,  and  the  fine  harbor  of  Port  Royal,  with  its  defences, 
by  Commodore  Du  Pont  and  Gen.  Thomas  W.  Sherman.  A 
blockade  was  maintained  along  the  coast,  but  on  dark 
nights  fast-sailing  craft  would  sometimes  slip  past  the  Fed 
eral  vessels,  carrying  out  cargoes  of  cotton  and  bringing 
back  much-needed  supplies.  Several  Confederate  priva 
teers,  also,  got  out  upon  the  ocean,  and  inflicted  great  loss 
on  northern  commerce. 

An  incident  which  occurred  in  November  of  this  year 
came  near  involving  the  Federal  government  in  war  with 
Great  Britain.  Mason  and  Slidell,  appointed  Confederate 
ambassadors  to  England  and  France,  had  run  the  blockade, 
and  at  Havana  embarked  on  the  Trent,  a  British  mail-vessel. 
Captain  Wilkes,  in  the  U.  S.  steamer  San  Jacinto,  over 
hauled  them  shortly  after  leaving  port,  took  them  off  the 
Trent,  and  thus  provoked  from  Great  Britain  loud  com 
plaints  of  the  indignity  offered  to  her  flag  and  demands  for 
reparation.  The  threatened  collision  was  avoided  by  a 
prompt  disavowal  of  the  seizure  and  the  restoration  of  the 
prisoners. 

OPERATIONS    OF    1862. 

The  beginning  of  the  year  1862  found  not  less  than 
450,000  national  troops  in  the  field,  nearly  half  of  whom 
were  under  McClellan's  command  near  Washington.  While 
he  was  disciplining  them  into  an  efficient  army  for  a  move 
ment  on  the  Confederate  capital,  important  operations  were 
going  on  elsewhere,  with  the  view  to  a  general  invasion 
southward  farther  west,  and  the  securing  of  important 
points  on  the  coast  as  bases  of  operation  and  for  the  main 
tenance  of  a  more  efficient  blockade. 

Movements  in  the  West, — KENTUCKY  became  the  princi 
pal  battle-field  early  in  the  year.  A  decisive  Union  victory 
gained  January  19th  at  Mill  Springs,  by  Gen.  George  H. 
Thomas,  freed  the  eastern  part  of  the  state  from  the  Con 
federates,  while  still  more  important  successes  were  achieved 


1862] 


MOVEMENTS    IN   THE    WEST. 


271 


GUNBOAT  AXD  MORTAR-BOAT. 

in  the  west.  A  fleet  of  gunboats  and  mortar-boats  had 
been  prepared  during  the  winter  at  Cairo,  111.  These,  man 
aged  by  Commodore  Foote  and  acting  in  connection  with  a 
land-force  under  Gen.  Ulysses  S.  Grant,  in  February  effected 
the  capture  of  Forts  Henry  and  Donelson,  situated  respec 
tively  on  the  Tennessee  and  the  Cumberland  River,  in  north 
western  Tennessee  (see  Map,  p.  269).  The  loss  of  these 
positions  and  the  10,000  men  they  contained  obliged  Gen. 
A.  S.  Johnston,  the  Confederate  commander  of  the  depart 
ment,  to  retire  to  the  south  of  the  Tennessee  River. 

TENNESSEE.— The  Federal  forces  soon  took  Nashville, 
with  valuable  stores  collected  there.  Pushing  on  to  the 
south,  they  finally  reached  Pittsburg  Landing  on  the  Ten 
nessee  River,  near  the  state-line.  Here  they  were  con 
fronted  by  a  large'body  of  Confederates,  under  A.  S.  John 
ston  and  Beauregard.  While  Grant,  who  commanded  on 
the  Union  side,  was  waiting  at  this  point  for  Gen.  Buell  to 
join  him  with  re-enforcements,  he  was  suddenly  attacked  by 
the  Confederates,  who  captured  one  division  of  his  army, 


272  THE   CIVIL   WAK.  [l862 

and  drove  the  rest  with  severe  loss  to  the  river,  where  the 
gunboats  protected  them  (April  6th). 

During  the  night  Buell  came  up,  and  the  next  day  the 
Federals  assumed  the  offensive,  and  in  turn  drove  back  the 
Confederates.  These  desperate  encounters,  generally  called 
the  battle  of  Shiloh,  from  Shiloh  Church  which  stood  near 
the  landing,  were  attended  with  great  loss  of  life  ;  they  cost 
the  national  army  in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  nearly 
14,000  men — the  Confederates,  10,700,  including  Gen.  John 
ston,  who  fell  in  the  first  day's  fight.  Gen.  Halleck,  who 
now  assumed  command  of  the  Federal  army,  followed  the 
Confederates  across  the  state-line  to  Corinth,  Miss.  ;  but 
without  waiting  for  his  attack  at  that  point,  they  fell  back 
still  farther  after  destroying  their  magazines. 

ISLAND  No.  10. — When  Kentucky  was  abandoned,  the 
Confederate  division  that  had  occupied  Columbus  seized 
Island  No.  10  in  the  Mississippi,  with  the  view  of  controlling 
the  navigation  of  that  river.  Gen.  Pope  with  a  land-force, 
and  Commodore  Foote  with  his  flotilla,  attacked  them  in 
this  strong  position,  and  made  it  untenable.  On  their  at 
tempting  to  withdraw,  Pope  intercepted  them  and  took 
6,000  prisoners  (April  8th).  The  river  being  now  open,  the 
Union  fleet  ran  down  to  Fort  Pillow  (see  Map,  p.  269), 
which  was  evacuated  by  the  enemy  after  a  bombardment  of 
several  weeks,  and  the  defeat  of  their  gunboats  and  rams  in 
the  river.  As  the  fruit  of  this  success  and  another  victory 
over  the  Confederate  flotilla,  Commodore  Davis,  on  the  6th 
of  June,  took  the  important  city  of  Memphis. 

BEYOND  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  the  Confederate  troops  had 
all  this  time  been  too  hard  pressed  to  succor  their  friends 
in  the  struggles  just  recounted.  Gen.  Curtis  had  driven 
them  from  Missouri  ;  and  when,  re-enforced,  they  made  a 
stand  at  Pea  Ridge,  in  the  north-western  corner  of  Arkansas, 
he  inflicted  a  severe  defeat  upon  them  after  three  davs' 
hard  fighting  (March  6,  7,  8). 


1862] 


THE   MONITOR   AND   VIRGINIA. 


273 


Williams-^ 


Movements  on  the  Atlantic  Coast, — While  the  Union  arms 
were  thus  generally  crowned  with  success  in  the  west,  the 
Union  flag  was  no  less  triumphant  on  the  Atlantic  coast. 
First  came  the  capture  of  the  Confederate  post  on  Roanoke 
Island.  This  was  accomplished,  February  8th,  by  an  expe 
dition  from  Fortress  Monroe,  under  Gen.  Ambrose  E.  Burn- 
side  and  Commodore  Goldsborough.  The  capture  of  New- 
bern  and  Beaufort  (bu'fort),  and  the  works  that  defended 
them,  speedily  followed.  Somewhat  later  Fort  Pulaski  was 
reduced  by  bombardment,  and  Savannah  was  thus  sealed 
against  blockade-runners.  Similar  successes  were  gained  on 
the  Florida  coast. 

The  Monitor,  —  March  8,  1862,  was  signalized  by  an 
attack  of  the  Confederate  ram  Virginia  on  the  Union  fleet 
in  Hampton  Roads,  and  the  destruction  of  the  wooden 
frigates  Cumberland 
and  Congress  with  a 
number  of  their  men. 
The  Virginia  was  built 
on  the  hull  of  the  U. 
S.  frigate  Merrimac, 
which  had  been  sunk 
at  Norfolk  when  the 
war  began.  Ordinary 
projectiles  made  no 
impression  on  her  pon 
derous  iron-plated  sides,  and  the  utmost  consternation  pre 
vailed  lest,  after  finishing  her  work  of  destruction  in  the 
Roads,  she  should  run  out  to  sea  and  commit  havoc  among 
the  shipping  in  northern  ports. 

But  that  same  night  the  Monitor,  an  iron  vessel  with  a 
revolving  turret,  built  by  Er'icsson  and  commanded  by  Cap 
tain  Worden  (wur'den),  reached  Fortress  Monroe.  When 
the  next  morning  the  Virginia  steamed  out  of  Norfolk,  to 
renew  the  work  of  the  preceding  day,  the  little  Monitor 


NORFOLK 

.ASTD 
VICINITY 


274 


THE   CIVIL    WAK. 


[1862 


boldly  engaged  her,  and  so  damaged  the  formidable  iron-clad 
in  a  five-hour  engagement  that  she  withdrew  once  more  to 
Norfolk.  Government  at  once  showed  its  appreciation  of 
the  Monitor's  efficiency  by  ordering  several  other  floating 
batteries  of  the  same  pattern. 

Capture  of  New  Orleans. — The  severest  loss  experienced 
by  the  Confederates  at  this  time  was  that  of  the  commercial 
metropolis  of  the  south-west,  New  Orleans.  It  was  taken 
on  the  25th  of  April  by  a  fleet  under  Admiral  Far'ragut  and 
a  land-force  under  Gen.  B.  F.  Butler.  The  admiral  ran  past 
Forts  St.  Philip  and  Jackson  below  the  city  (Map,  p.  228), 
and  these  defences  surrendered  to  Commodore  Porter's  mor 
tar-boats  three  days  afterward.  Gen.  Butler  took  command 
in  New  Orleans,  and  the  fleet  proceeded  up  the  river  to  re 
duce  other  places  on  its  banks. 

McClellan's  Peninsular  Campaign. — All  winter  the  troops 
under  McClellan  had  been  employed  in  no  active  service  ex 
cept  picket-duty,  though  "  On  to  Richmond  !  "  had  for  some 

time  been  the  popular 
cry  at  the  north.  But 
before  the  1st  of  April, 
the  Confederates  having 
been  defeated  at  Win 
chester  March  23d,  and 
having  fallen  back  from 
Manassas  to  a,  new  line 
of  defence  on  the  Rap- 
pahannock,  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  was  in  mo 
tion.  It  was  carried  by 
water  from  Alexandria  to  Fortress  Monroe,  and  from  the 
latter  point  marched  up  the  peninsula  between  the  James 
and  the  York,  this  route  having  been  selected  on  account  of 
the  facilities  afforded  by  the  rivers  for  the  transportation  of 
supplies. 


PICKET-DITTY. 


1862]          MCCLELLAN'S  PENINSULAR  CAMPAIGN.  275 

The  Confederates,  to  whom  the  gaining  of  time  for  the 
completion  of  their  defences  about  Richmond  was  all-im 
portant,  resisted  the  advance  of  the  Union  army  at  York- 
town,  and  again  at  Williamsburg,  but  were  obliged  to  give 
way.  Steadily  pressing  on,  McClellan  by  the  close  of  May 
found  himself  but  seven  miles  from  Richmond.  About  that 
city  Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnston  had  concentrated  his  forces. 
Norfolk,  being  thus  left  undefended,  was  occupied  by  Gen. 
Wool  with  a  force  from  Fortress  Monroe ;  and,  the  Confed 
erates  having  blown  up  their  ram  Virginia,  the  James  River 
was  opened  to  the  Federal  fleet  as  far  as  Drewry's  Bluff, 
eight  miles  from  Richmond,  where  the  gunboats  were  driven 
back  by  powerful  batteries. 

McClellan  had  expected  to  be  joined  by  another  corps 
from  Washington,  on  his  march  to  Richmond.  The  success 
ful  movements,  however,  made  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley 
by  Generals  Evvell  and  Jackson  (familiarly  called  "  Stonewall 
Jackson  "  from  his  having  stood  with  his  men  as  firm  as  a 
stone-wall,  in  the  battle  of  Bull  Run)  had  obliged  the  presi 
dent  to  retain  the  expected  re-enforcements  for  the  defence 
of  the  capital.  Thus  left  to  his  own  resources  and  with  his 
ranks  thinned  by  the  malaria  of  the  Chickahominy  Swamps, 
McClellan.  was  attacked  at  Fair  Oaks,  May  31st.  The  Con 
federates  were  repulsed ;  and  Gen.  Johnston,  having  been 
wounded,  was  succeeded  in  command  by  Gen.  Robert  E. 
Lee,  son  of  the  "  Light-horse  Harry "  whose  exploits  have 
been  related  in  the  history  of  the  Revolution. 

Notwithstanding  the  advantage  gained  at  Fair  Oaks,  the 
situation  of  the  Federal  army  was  becoming  critical.  Jack 
son  having  joined  Lee,  McClellan  found  it  necessary  to 
change  his  base  to  the  James  River,  where  his  communications 
would  be  protected  by  the  gunboats.  On  commencing  this 
movement,  he  was  furiously  attacked  by  the  Confederates, 
and  for  seven  days,  from  June  25th  to  July  1st,  there  was 
almost  continuous  fighting.  Mechanicsville,  Gaines's  Mill, 


276 


THE   CIVIL   WAR. 


[1862 


Savage's  Station,  White -Oak    Swamp,   and    Charles   City 
Cross  Roads,  were  successively  the  scenes  of  bloody  battles  ; 

not  till  the  Union  army 
reached  Malvern  Hill 
(July  1)  was  the  Con 
federate  pursuit  stopped. 
After  this  terrible  or 
deal,  McClellan's  men 
found  rest  and  safety  at 
Harrison's  Landing1,  on 
the  James. 

Lee's  First  Invasion. 
— Richmond  being  safe, 
Lee  now  assumed  the 
offensive,  pushing  rap 
idly  to  the  north.  His 
advance  was  first  resist 
ed  at  Cedar  Mountain 
(see  Map,  p.  268)  ;  but 
Gen.  Pope,  in  command  of  the  forces  that  had  been  gath 
ered  for  the  defence  of  Washington,  was  driven  back  from 
one  position  to  another,  delaying  his  assailants,  but  unable 
to  hold  them  in  check. 

The  Union  army  suffered  heavily  a  second  time  at  Bull 
Run,  and  again  at  Chantilly,  where  Generals  Stevens  and 
Philip  Kearney  fell.  By  stubbornly  disputing  the  way, 
Pope  gained  time  for  McClellan's  army,  which  had  been  sent 
for  with  all  speed,  to  reach  the  scene  of  action.  Thus  Wash 
ington  was  saved.  Meanwhile  600,000  more  men  had  been 
called  for  by  the  president. 

Lee  now  crossed  the  Potomac  into  Maryland.  Early  in 
September,  Frederick  and  Hagerstown  were  occupied  ;  but 
McClellan,  who  had  superseded  Pope,  was  not  far  behind, 
and  on  the  14th  Lee  had  to  give  him  battle  at  South  Moun 
tain.  The  Confederate  arms  here  met  with  a  reverse,  but  it 


BATTLE-FIELDS  NEAR  EICIIMOND. 


1862] 


BATTLE    OF   FKEDEKICKSBURG. 


277 


was  counterbalanced  the  next  day  by  the  capture  of  Har 
per's  Ferry  and  11,600  men  by  Stonewall  Jackson.  On  the 
17th  another  great  battle  was  fought,  at  Antietam  (an-tef- 
tain)  Creek.  McClellan  was  the  victor,  but  the  loss  on  both 
sides  was  severe,  and  Lee  was  allowed  to  recross  the  Poto 
mac  unmolested. 

Burnside's  Campaign. — In  November,  Gen.  Burnside  was 
appointed  to  the  command  in  Virginia  in  McClellan's  place. 
He  resolved  on  an  advance  to  Richmond  from  the  north,  and 


CONSTRUCTING   A   PONTOON-BllIDGE. 

soon  had  his  army  on  the  bank  of  the  Rappahannock,  oppo 
site  Fredericksburg.  Lee  promptly  appeared  on  the  other 
side,  and,  before  Burnside  could  bridge  the  river  with  pon 
toons,  he  had  the  heights  back  of  the  city  strongly  fortified. 
Burnside  crossed  and  made  desperate  efforts  to  carry  Lee's 
position  ;  but  it  was  in  vain,  and  the  national  army  recrossed 
the  Rappahannock,  diminished  ,by  12,000  men.  The  capture 
of  Richmond  seemed  as  far  off  as  ever. 


278  THE   CIVIL   WAE.  [l862 

Western  Movements. — The  Confederates  had  not  given 
up  Kentucky.  Two  armies,  commanded  respectively  by 
Generals  Kirby  Smith  and  Bragg,  entered  the  state,  and  de 
feating  the  Union  forces  at  Richmond  and  Munfordsville 
(see  Map,  p.  269),  threatened  Cincinnati  and  Louisville. 
Gen.  Lewis  Wallace  saved  the  former  city  ;  Gen.  Buell, 
though  slow  in  his  movements,  the  latter.  In  October,  Buell 
engaged  the  Confederates  at  Perryville,  Ky.,  with  success, 
and  Bragg  fell  back  across  the  state-line.  At  the  close  of 
the  year,  one  of  the  most  obstinate  actions  of  the  war  took 
place  between  Bragg  and  Gen.  Rosecrans,  by  whom  Buell 
had  been  superseded,  at  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  resulting  Jan 
uary  3,  1863,  in  a  Union  victory.  Rosecrans  had  previous 
ly  defeated  a  Confederate  army  under  Gen.  Price  at  lu'ka, 
in  the  north-east  corner  of  Mississippi,  and  repulsed  Gen 
erals  Price  and  Van  Dorn  from  Corinth. 

Financial  Measures. — The  war  was  costing  a  million  and 
a  quarter  dollars  a  day.  To  meet  this  great  expense,  Con 
gress  imposed  heavy  taxes  and  duties,  and  authorized  the 
issue  of  bonds  bearing  six  per  cent,  interest,  and  "green 
backs,"  or  government  notes,  which  were  made  a  legal  ten 
der.  The  general  derangement  of  finances  obliged  the  banks 
to  suspend  specie  payments,  and  a  paper  dollar  ceased  to  be 
worth  its  face  in  gold  or  silver.  At  one  time  during  the 
war,  $100  in  gold  was  equal  to  $298  in  greenbacks. 

OPERATIONS   OF    1863. 

Emancipation  Proclamation. — January  1,  1863,  was  sig 
nalized  by  a  proclamation  of  the  president,  abolishing  slavery 
in  all  parts  of  the  seceded  states  not  held  by  the  Federal 
government.  This  was  done  by  the  authority  of  Congress, 
and  according  to  notice  given  a  hundred  days  before. 

Hooker's  Campaign. — On  the  20th  of  January,  Gen.  Burn- 
side  surrendered  the  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
to  Gen.  Joseph  Hooker,  who  took  the  field  in  May.  A  ter- 


1863] 


LEE'S  SECOND  INVASION. 


279 


rible  conflict  at  Chancellorsville  (see  Map,  p.  268),  in  which 
the  Federal  loss  in 
killed  and  wounded 
amounted  to  11,000 
men,  obliged  Gen. 
Hooker  to  retreat  to 
the  other  side  of  the 
Rappahannock.  This 
battle  cost  the  Con 
federates  their  val 
ued  general  Stone 
wall  Jackson;  while 
riding  to  the  rear  of 
his  division,  he  was 
shot  by  his  own  men,  who  mistook  his  party  in  the  darkness 
for  Federal  cavalry. 

Lee's  Second  Invasion. — His  success  at  Chancellorsville 
encouraged  Lee  to  attempt  a  second  invasion  of  Maryland. 
He  was  soon  across  the  Potomac,  and  this  time  advanced 
into  Pennsylvania.  Chambersburg  and  York  (see  Map,  p. 
268)  were  successively  taken  ;  but  before  he  could  reach 
Harrisburg,  it  was  necessary  to  collect  his  forces  to  face 
Gen.  Meade,  who  had  succeeded  Hooker  and  was  following 
closely  on  his  track. 

The  hostile  armies  met  at  Gettysburg,  July  lst-3d.  Vic 
tory  at  first  inclined  to  the  Confederate  side,  but  finally  de 
clared  decisively  in  favor  of  the  Union  arms.  Lee  retreated 
across  the  Potomac,  leaving  many  prisoners  in  the  hands  of 
his  pursuers.  Both  sides  lost  heavily  on  the  obstinately  con 
tested  field  of  Gettysburg. 

Grant's  Campaign  in  Mississippi. — At  the  close  of  1862 
an  attempt  had  been  made  to  open  the  Mississippi  by  the 
capture  of  Vicksburg,  which  was  strongly  fortified  and  held 
by  the  Confederates.  The  attempt  had  failed,  and  while 
Gen.  Grant  was  bringing  down  more  troops  from  Memphis 


280 


THE   CIVIL    WAK. 


[1863 


Yazoo 
City 


to  renew  it,  Gen.  McClernand  improved  the  time  to  capture 
Arkansas  Post  on  the  Arkansas  River,  with  its  garrison  of 
5,000  men.  The  fleet  and  army  then  returned  to  the  Missis 
sippi,  and  effected  a  junction  with  Grant's  command. 

Marching  his  land-force  to  a  point  below  Vicksburg  and 
making  his  gunboats  run  the  gantlet  of  the  Confederate 
batteries  by  night,  Grant  soon  had  his  army  across  the  river 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Grand  Gulf,  which  place,  after  a 
defeat  near  Port  Gibson,  the  Confederates  evacuated.  Then 

followed  from  May  12th  to  17th 
a  series  of  victories  for  the  Fed 
eral  army — at  Raymond,  Jack 
son,  Champion's  Hill,  and  Big 
Black  River  Bridge.  Vicksburg 
was  next  invested.  Its  garrison, 
30,000  strong,  under  Gen.  Pem- 
berton,  held  out  till  the  4th  of 
July ;  but  on  that  day,  all  hope 
of  aid  as  well  as  the  supplies  of 
the  city  having  failed,  they  were 
obliged  to  surrender.  Port  Hud 
son,  in  Louisiana,  with  more  than 
6,000  men,  fell  into  the  hands  of 
Gen.  Banks  a  few  days  later. 
Thus  the  Mississippi  was  opened 
throughout  its  length. 
Meanwhile,  in  the  waters  of  Georgia,  the  Confederate 
privateer  Nashville  had  been  destroyed  by  the  Montauk, 
and  the  ram  Atlanta  had  struck  to  the  Weehawken.  The 
loyal  counties  in  the  west  of  the  "  Old  Dominion  "  had  also 
been  admitted  as  a  new  state,  under  the  name  of  West  Vir 
ginia. 

The  Draft. — Volunteers  not  offering  as  freely  as  was 
desired  to  recruit  the  national  army,  by  authority  of  Con 
gress  a  draft  was  resorted  to  ;  that  is,  from  the  whole  num- 


"VlCKSBURQ      AND    ADJACENT     BATTLE' 
FIELDS. 


1863]  THE   DEAFT   IN   NEW   YORK.  281 

her  of  able-bodied  citizens  between  the  ages  of  twenty  and 
forty-five  a  certain  number  were  drawn  by  lot,  who  were 
obliged  either  to  serve  in  person  or  to  provide  substitutes. 
The  drawing  in  New  York  City  was  the  signal  for  a  serious 
riot.  A  mob,  swelled  by  thieves  and  ruffians,  had  control  of 
the  city  for  three  days  (July  13-16),  the  police  being  unable 
to  cope  with  them  alone,  and  the  military  having  not  yet 
returned  from  Pennsylvania,  to  which  state  they  had  gone 
to  assist  in  its  defence.  After  a  number  of  houses  had  been 
burned,  and  several  hundred  lives  destroyed,  a  sufficient 
force  was  gathered  to  restore  order. 

Raids  had  been  carried  on  from  time  to  time  by  cavalry 
parties  on  both  sides,  making  a  dash  through  or  around  the 
hostile  lines,  for  the  purpose  of  severing  railroad  connec 
tions,  destroying  stores,  striking  isolated  detachments,  etc. 
On  the  Union  side,  Gen.  Mitchell  in  northern  Alabama,  Gen. 
Stoneman  and  Colonel  Kilpatrick  in  Virginia,  and  Colonel 
Grierson  in  Mississippi,  had  particularly  distinguished  them 
selves  in  these  expeditions.  Gen.  Stuart,  on  the  part  of  the 
Confederates,  had  been  equally  successful  in  Pennsylvania. 
In  June,  Gen.  Morgan,  with  2,500  Confederates,  crossing 
from  Kentucky  into  Indiana  and  following  the  Ohio  River 
eastward,  did  considerable  damage,,  until  he  was  defeated 
and  captured  near  New  Lisbon. 

Movements  in  Carolina. — Desiring  to  regain  some  of  the 
ground  they  had  lost  in  Carolina,  the  Confederates  in  March 
attacked  Newbern,  but  were  repulsed.  About  the  same 
time,  the  Federal  iron-clads  made  an  aggressive  movement 
in  Charleston  harbor,  but  were  roughly  handled  by  the  Con 
federate  batteries,  so  that  a  strong  land-force  under  Gen. 
Gillmore  was  sent  to  cooperate  with  them.  In  seven  days, 
Fort  Sumter  was  battered  to  ruins  by  Gillmore's  breaching- 
guns  ;  the  works  on  Morris  Island  were  taken  shortly  after  ; 
and  a  fire,  destructive  though  maintained  at  a  distance  of 
four  miles,  was  opened  on  Charleston  itself.  Many  of  the 


282  THE   CIVIL   WAE.  [l863 

inhabitants  had  withdrawn  from  the  city,  but  it  was  still 
guarded  by  a  vigilant  garrison. 

Tennessee  became  an  important  theatre  of  war  in  the 
early  autumn.  Rosecrans,  by  a  series  of  skillful  move 
ments,  obliged  Bragg  to  fall  back  to  north-western  Georgia. 
Here  he  was  largely  re-enforced,  and  turning  on  the  Federal 
army  attacked  it  furiously  at  Chickamauga  Creek,  Septem 
ber  19th.  The  steadiness  of  Gen.  Thomas's  division  saved 
the  Union  army  from  rout,  but  it  was  defeated  with  a  loss 
of  nearly  17,000  men.  Collected  at  Chattanooga,  with  its 
line  of  communications  severed,  its  situation  was  critical 
till  Gen.  Hooker,  arriving  with  two. corps  from  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  opened  the  Tennessee  River.  Gen.  Grant, 
with  a  large  force  from  Vicksburg,  soon  after  reached  the 
scene  of  action  and  assumed  command. 

On  the  24th  of  November  a  battle  took  place  on  Look 
out  Mountain,  at  such  a  height  that  the  clouds  at  times 
concealed  the  combatants  from  the  view  of  those  below. 
Hooker  and  his  men  were  here  completely  successful,  and 
the  following  day  the  Confederates  were  driven  also  from 
Missionary  Ridge.  Bragg  had  to  retreat,  and  Gen.  Sher 
man  hastened  to  raise  the  siege  of  Knoxville,  in  East  Ten 
nessee,  wrhere  Burnside  and  a  Federal  division  were  hard 
pressed  by  Gen.  Longstreet.  In  this  he  succeeded,  and 
Longstreet  rejoined  Lee  with  his  command. 

Throughout  much  of  the  year,  Mississippi  and  Arkansas 
were  harassed  by  the  march  of  contending  armies  and  by 
guerrilla  warfare.  In  all  the  important  engagements  the 
Unionists  were  successful,  and  Federal  authority  was  restored 
in  the  greater  part  of  both  states. 

OPERATIONS    OF    18G4. 

Red  River  Expedition. — Passing  over  an  expedition  of 
Gen.  Sherman  east  from  Vicksburg,  which  was  unproductive 
of  important  results  on  account  of  the  inability  of  a  cavalry- 


1864]  BED   KIVER    EXPEDITION.  283 

force  from  Memphis  to  effect  a  junction  with  him,  the  first 
undertaking  of  the  year  worthy  of  notice  was  Banks's  Red 
River  Expedition.  A  strong  land-force  and  Porter's  gun 
boats  participated  in  it ;  its  object  was  to  open  north-western 
Louisiana. 

Fort  de  Russy  was  taken  ;  Alexandria  and  Natchitoches 
were  successively  occupied ;  but,  in  advancing  from  the  lat 
ter  town,  the  army,  deprived  of  the  support  of  the  gunboats, 
met  the  Confederates  in  strong  force  at  Sabine  Cross  Roads. 
The  battle  at  this  point  terminated  in  disaster  to  the  Feder 
als  ;  and,  though  on  the  following  day  the  assailants  were 
repulsed  at  Pleasant  Hill,  the  expedition  had  to  be  aban 
doned.  The  river  having  fallen,  the  gunboats  found  it  hard 
to  get  back  ;  but,  by  the  construction  of  a  dam  below,  the 
water  was  raised  sufficiently  for  them  to  pass  over  the  rapids. 
The  Red  River  Expedition  was  thus  a  failure. 

We  have  next  to  notice  the  capture  of  several  Federal 
posts,  among  which  were  Fort  Pillow,  Tenn.,  and  Plymouth, 
N.C. 

Sherman's  Advance  on  Atlanta, — Early  in  the  year,  Grant 
was  raised  to  the  highest  rank  known  to  the  service  of  the 
United  States,  that  of  Lieutenant-General,  which  after 
Scott's  decease  no  one  had  held.  Making  his  headquarters 
with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  with  which  he  proposed 
at  once  to  move  on  Richmond,  he  intrusted  the  100,000 
men  at  Chattanooga  to  Gen.  Sherman,  with  directions  to 
advance  on  Atlanta.  Gen.  Sherman  lost  no  time  in  obey 
ing,  and  by  a  series  of  able  movements,  now  flanking  the 
Confederates  and  now  giving  them  battle  (at  Resaca,  Dallas, 
Kenesaw  Mountain,  and  before  Atlanta — see  Map,  p.  288), 
on  the  2d  of  September  he  gained  possession  of  the  city  just 
named. 

Grant's  Advance  on  Richmond. — Grant's  tactics  with  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  under  the  immediate  command  of 
Gen.  Meade,  were  similar.  Flanking  the  Confederates  un- 


284 


THE    CIVIL    WAE. 


[1864 


der  Gen.  Lee,  he  obliged  them  either  to  fall  back  or  to  give 
battle.  A  series  of  terrible  conflicts  ensued,  in  which  blood 
was  poured  out  like  water — at  the  Wilderness,  May  5th- 
7th— at  Spottsylvania  C.  H.,  from  the  8th  to  the  12th— at 
Cold  Harbor,  but  a  few  miles  from  Richmond,  June  3d.  Baf 
fled  at  the  latter  point  in  his  efforts  to  break  through  the 
Confederate  lines,  Grant  transferred  his  army  to  the  south 
side  of  the  James,  and  advanced  upon  Petersburg,  twenty- 
two  miles  south  of  Richmond.  Lee  threw  forward  a  strong 

detachment  for  its 
defence  ;  an  attempt 
to  take  the  city  by 
storm  failed,  and  it 
was  soon  invested  by 
the  Federal  forces. 
Strong  siege-works 
were  constructed  in 
front  of  the  whole 
Confederate  line, 
while  pickets  and 
small  parties  of 
troops  thrown  out  in 
advance  were  pro- 
EIFLE-PITS.  tected  by  rifle-pits. 

Third  Invasion  of  Maryland.  —  Simultaneously  with 
Grant's  advance,  two  attempts  on  Lynchburg,  west  of  Rich 
mond,  had  been  made  by  divisions  of  the  Federal  army, 
but  neither  had  succeeded.  After  the  latter  of  the  two,  the 
Confederate  Gen.  Early,  finding  the  Shenandoah  Valley  left 
undefended,  embraced  the  opportunity  to  invade  Maryland 
the  third  time.  The  5th  of  July  found  him  at  Hagerstown ; 
Gen.  Wallace  delayed  him  for  a  time  near  Frederick,  on  the 
Monocracy  River,  till  a  sufficient  force  could  be  collected  for 
the  defence  of  Washington  ;  and  when  he  appeared  before 
the  fortifications  of  that  city,  he  found  the  opportunity  for 


1864]  SHERIDAN   AND   EARLY.  285 

seizing  it  passed,  and  beat  a  speedy  retreat.  A  body  of 
Federal  troops  that  started  in  pursuit,  after  gaining  some 
advantages,  was  repulsed ;  and  near  the  close  of  July  Early 
sent  a  detachment  of  horse  again  into  Pennsylvania,  which 
penetrated  to  Chambersburg.  The  invading  force  was  pur 
sued  on  its  way  back  and  lost  a  number  of  prisoners,  but 
Early  was  still  formidable  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  till 
Gen.  Sheridan  with  40,000  men  took  the  field  against  him. 

The  battles  of  Winchester  and  Fisher's  Hill  in  September 
resulted  in  Union  victories,  as  did  also  an  engagement  at 
Cedar  Creek,  twenty  miles  from  Winchester,  on  the  19th  of 
October.  Here  the  Federal  army  was  at  first  driven  back 
in  confusion  ;  but  the  day  was  saved  by  Sheridan's  appear 
ance  on  the  field,  after  a  hurried  ride  from  Winchester. 
Early,  badly  defeated,  moved  up  the  valley  ;  and  the  victors, 
by  the  wholesale  destruction  of  stores  and  other  property, 
made  it  untenable  to  the  enemy  for  the  future. 

Achievements  of  the  Navy.  —  England,  throughout  the 
war,  had  manifested  no  sympathy  for  the  national  govern 
ment.  She  had  even  gone  so  far  as  to  allow  Confederate 
privateers  to  be  built  in  her  ports.  Several  of  these  had 
done  great  damage  to  American  commerce,  particularly  the 
Alabama,  commanded  by  Captain  Semmes.  Semmes  having 
challenged  Captain  Winslow  of  the  U.  S.  steamer  Kearsarge 
to  an  engagement,  the  vessels  met  off  the  French  coast, 
June  19th,  and  the  Alabama  was  sunk.  The  privateer 
Georgia  had  already  been  taken,  and  the  Florida  was  short 
ly  afterward  captured  in  a  Brazilian  port. 

Conspicuous  among  the  naval  successes  of  the  year  was 
the  defeat  of  the  Confederate  fleet,  and  capture  of  the  forts, 
in  Mobile  Bay,  by  Admiral  Farragut.  It  was  here  that  he  had 
himself  lashed  to  the  main-top  of  his  flag-ship  the  Hartford. 

Sherman's  March. — After  pursuing  into  Alabama  the 
Confederate  Gen.  Hood,  who  had  assumed  the  offensive, 
Sherman  divided  his  forces  and  turned  back,  leaving  Thomas 


286 


THE    CIYIL   WAR. 


[1864 


to  look  after  Hood.  He  had  determined  to  abandon  his 
communications  with  the  interior  ;  and,  after  burning  Atlan 
ta  (Nov.  15),  he  com 
menced  a  march  to 
the  seaboard  (see 
Map,  p.  288).  His 
army,  divided  into 
two  columns,  over 
ran  a  tract  fifty  miles 
wide,  subsisting  on 
the  country  and 
spreading  conster 
nation  in  its  path. 
Savannah,  evacu 
ated  by  the  Confed 
erates,  was  occupied  December  21st,  Fort  McAllister  having 
been  previously  taken  by  assault. 

Immediately  on  Sherman's  departure,  Hood  invaded 
Tennessee.  A  stubborn  battle,  fought  at  Franklin  (see 
Map,  p.  269),  at  first  promising  him  victory,  cost  him  severe 
ly  at  its  close  ;  but  the  Federals  withdrew  within  their  in- 
trenchments  near  Nashville.  Here,  December  15th,  16th,  a 
decisive  action  took  place  between  Hood  and  Thomas.  The 
latter  was  completely  victorious  ;  Hood's  army  was  routed 
with  a  loss  of  many  prisoners,  and  thoroughly  demoralized 
sought  refuge  in  Alabama. 

The  Siege  of  Petersburg  was  all  this  time  being  pushed 
with  vigor.  At  the  end  of  July,  a  mine  was  exploded  under 
one  of  the  forts  in  the  line  of  defence  ;  but  an  attempt  of 
the  Federals  to  enter  through  the  breach  was  repulsed  with 
heavy  loss.  Attacks  were  made  at  different  points  of  the 
Confederate  lines  on  both  sides  of  the  James  River, — on  the 
south  side,  especially  for  the  purpose  of  severing  the  com 
munications  of  the  besieged  city.  These  were  attended 
with  varied  success,  but  generally  resulted  in  severe  loss  to 


1864]  LINCOLN   KE-ELECTED.  287 

both  sides.     In  one  of  them,  the  Union  forces  gained  pos 
session  of  the  Weldon  Railroad. 

Re-election  of  Lincoln. — In  November,  1864,  the  republi 
cans  re-elected  President  Lincoln,  over  Gen.  George  B.  Mc- 
Clellan,  the  democratic  candidate,  and  made  Andrew  John 
son,  of  Tennessee,  vice-president.  Mr.  Lincoln,  who  always 
had  an  apt  illustration  or  good  story  at  hand,  said  he  sup 
posed  the  people  did  not  want  to  swap  horses  while  they 
were  crossing  the  river.  Nevada  cast  her  first  presidential 
vote  at  this  election,  having  been  admitted  into  the  Union, 
October  31,  1864.  Four  calls,  for  an  aggregate  of  1,200,000 
additional  men,  were  made  by  the  president  during  the  year. 

OPERATIONS    OF    1865. 

Wilmington,  N.  C.,  had  long  been  the  chief  port  of  entry 
for  blockade-runners.  An  unsuccessful  attempt  had  been 
made  on  Fort  Fisher,  one  of  the  defences  of  this  city,  tow 
ard  the  close  of  1864  ;  the  attack  was  renewed  early  in 
1865,  by  Admiral  Porter  and  Gen,  Terry.  Fort  Fisher  was 
carried  after  a  terrible  bombardment,  the  other  works  were 
taken,  and  on  Washington's  birthday  the  stars  and  stripes 
waved  once  more  over  Wilmington.  The  Confederates 
were  losing  their  strongholds,  one  after  another.  The  lines 
were  drawing  closer. 

Sherman  again  in  the  Field.— On  Petersburg  and  Rich 
mond,  where  Lee  still  bade  defiance  to  the  besiegers,  the 
whole  strength  of  the  Union  armies  was,  if  necessary,  to  be 
brought  to  bear.  Sherman  again  took  the  field,  to  reduce 
the  Carolinas  and  participate  in  the  final  struggle.  The 
Confederates,  though  they  bravely  disputed  his  progress, 
particularly  at  Bentonsville,  where  an  obstinate  encounter 
took  place  March  19th,  could  offer  no  effectual  resistance. 
Columbia,  Fayetteville,  Goldsboro,  and  Raleigh,  successively 
yielded,  Gen.  Johnston  retreating  to  the  north-west.  Nor 
could  Charleston,  in  the  face  of  this  movement  in  its  rear 


THE   CIVIL   WAE. 


[1865 


SHERMAN'S  MARCH  TO  THE  SEABOARD. 


and  the  constant  and  furious  cannonading  from  Gillmore's 
batteries,  hold  out  any  longer  ;  the  Confederate  army  re 
tired,  and  on  the  18th  of  February  this  city  surrendered. 

Sheridan  in  the  Saddle, — Sheridan  also  lent  important 
aid.  Scouring  the  upper  valley  of  the  Shenandoah,  break 
ing  up  Early's  force  at  Waynesboro,  destroying  bridges  and 
many  miles  of  railway,  he  crossed  the  James  and  joined  the 
besieging  force  south  of  that  river.  The  Confederates,  alive 
to  their  critical  situation,  now  determined  to  arm  the  slaves. 
On  the  25th  of  March,  Lee  made  a  desperate  effort  to  break 
the  Federal  lines,  and  partially  succeeded  ;  but  the  lost 
ground  was  soon  regained,  and  the  Federal  lines  were  ex 
tended. 

Close  of  the  War. — On  the  2d  of  April,  a  general  attack 
was  made  in  front  of  Petersburg,  and  the  Confederates  were 
driven  from  their  intrenchments.  That  night  Petersburg 
and  Richmond  were  evacuated,  and  the  next  day  the  Fed 
eral  forces  took  possession  of  both  cities.  Lee  made  a  push 
for  Lynchburg,  in  the  hope  that  he  might  still  protract  the 
struggle  ;  but  he  was  vigorously  pursued  by  Sheridan,  de- 


1805]  MTJKDER   OF   THE   PRESIDENT.  289 

feated  at  Deatonsville,  and  on  the  9th  of  April  obliged  to 
surrender  the  remnant  of  his  army,  which  had  now  dwindled 
to  9,000  men,  near  Appomattox  Court-House. 

Lee's  surrender  was  speedily  followed  by  that  of  the 
other  Confederate  generals — Johnston  in  North  Carolina, 
Taylor  in  the  Department  of  Alabama  and  Mississippi,  and 
Kirby  Smith  in  command  beyond  the  Mississippi  River.  So 

ENDED   THE    GKEAT   ClVIL   WAR. 

Assassination  of  the  President. — The  universal  joy  that 
followed  the  termination  of  the  war  was  suddenly  turned 
into  horror  and  grief  by  the  sad  tidings  that  President  Lin 
coln  had  been  assassinated.  He  was  shot  April  14th,  in  a 
box  at  the  theatre  in  Washington,  by  John  Wilkes  Booth, 
who  imagined  that  he  was  thus  avenging  the  South.  The 
wicked  deed  excited  intense  abhorrence  south  as  well  as 
north,  and  the  nation  mourned  as  it  had  never  mourned  be 
fore.  At  the  same  time  an  attempt  had  been  made  to  mur 
der  Mr.  Seward,  the  secretary  of  state,  who  was  dangerously 
ill  ;  but  it  was  frustrated  by  his  attendants,  two  of  whom, 
besides  Mr.  Seward  and  his  son,  were  wounded. 

Booth  and  an  accomplice  were  pursued,  and  after  some 
days  traced  to  a  barn.  Booth  refused  to  surrender,  and 
while  taking  aim  at  his  pursuers  was  shot  down.  The  ac 
complice  was  captured,  and  executed  along  with  three  others 
implicated  in  the  plot. 

ABSTRACT    OF    THE    PRINCIPAL    EVENTS    OF    THE 
CIVIL    WAR. 

Louisiana,  Jan.  26,  1861 


Date  of  secession  : — 
South  Carolina,          Dec.  20,  1860 
Mississippi,  Jan.  9,    1861 

Florida,  Jan.  10,     " 

Alabama,  Jan.  11,     " 

Georgia,  Jan.  19,     " 


Texas,  Feb.  1, 

Virginia,  Apr.  17, 

Arkansas,  May  6, 

North  Carolina,  May  20, 

Tennessee,  June  8, 


1861.  APRIL  13,  fall  of  Sumter ;  18,  seizure  of  Harper's   Ferry  by 
Confederates  ;  21,  seizure  of  navy-yard  at  Norfolk. 

13 


290  PRINCIPAL    EVENTS   OF 

JUNE  3,  battle  of  Philippi,  Va.  ;  10,  battle  of  Big  Bethel,  Ya. ;  11, 
battle  of  Komney,  Ya. 

JULY  5,  battle  near  Carthage,  Mo. ;  11,  battle  of  Rich  Mountain,  Ya. ; 
14,  battle  of  Carrick's  Ford,  Ya. ;  21,  first  battle  of  Bull  Run,  Ya. 

AUGUST  10,  battle  of  Wilson's  Creek,  Mo. ;  29,  capture  of  forts  at  Hat- 
teras  Inlet,  N.  C. 

SEPTEMBER  10,  battle  of  Carnifex  Ferry,  Ya.  ;  20,  battle  of  Lexington,  Mo. 

OCTOBER  21,  battle  of  Ball's  Bluff,  Ya. 

NOVEMBER  7,  battle  of  Belmont,  Mo.,  and  capture  of  Port  Royal,  S.  C. ; 
8,  seizure  of  Mason  and  Slidell. 

DECEMBER  20,  battle  of  Dranesville,  Ya. 

1862.  JANUARY  19,  battle  of  Mill  Springs,  Ky. 

FEBRUARY  6,  capture  of  Fort  Henry,  Tenn. ;  8,  capture  of  Roanoke 
Island,  N.  C. ;  16,  capture  of  Fort  Donelson,  Tenn. 

MARCH  6,  7,  8,  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  Ark. ;  8,  ram  Virginia  sinks  the 
Cumberland  and  Congress  ;  9,  engagement  between  the  Virginia  and  Moni 
tor  ;  14,  capture  of  Newbern,  N.  C. ;  23,  battle  of  Winchester  (between 
Generals  Shields  and  Jackson). 

APRIL  6,  7,  battle  of  Shiloh,  Tenn. ;  7,  capture  of  Island  No.  10,  Mis 
sissippi  River ;  11,  capture  of  Fort  Pulaski,  Ga. ;  25,  capture  of  Beaufort, 
S.  C.,  and  of  New  Orleans. 

MAY  4,  capture  of  Yorktown,  Ya.,  by  McClellan  ;  5,  battle  of  Williams- 
burg  ;  10,  seizure  of  Norfolk  by  Gen.  Wool ;  30,  capture  of  Corinth,  Miss. ; 
May  31  and  June  1,  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  Ya. 

JUNE  6,  surrender  of  Memphis,  Tenn. ;  25,  battle  of  Oak  Grove,  Ya. ; 
26,  battle  of  Mechanicsville ;  27,  battle  of  Gaines's  Mill ;  29,  battle  of 
Savage's  Station  ;  30,  battles  of  White-Oak  Swamp  and  Charles  City  Cross 
Roads. 

JULY  1,  battle  of  Malvern  Hill,  Ya. 

AUGUST  9,  battle  of  Cedar  Mountain,  Ya. ;  29,  30,  second  battle  of 
Bull  Run  ;  30,  battle  of  Richmond,  Ky. 

SEPTEMBER  14,  battle  of  South  Mountain,  Md. ;  15,  capture  of  Harper's 
Ferry  by  Confederates ;  17,  battles  of  Antietam,  Md.,  and  Munfordsville, 
Ky. ;  19,  battle  of  luka,  Miss. 

OCTOBER  4,  Confederate  repulse  at  Corinth,  Miss. ;  8,  battle  of  Pcrry- 
ville,  Ky. 

DECEMBER  13,  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  Ya. ;  Dec.  31-Jan.  3,  1863, 
battle  of  Murfreesboro,  Tenn. 

1863.  JANUARY  1,  Emancipation  proclamation;  11,  capture  of  Ar 
kansas  Post,  Ark.,  by  Unionists. 


THE    CIVIL    WAR.  291 

MAY  1,  battle  of  Port  Gibson,  Miss. ;  2,  3,  battle  of  Chancellorsville, 
Va. ;  12,  battle  of  Raymond,  Miss. ;  14,  battle  near  Jackson,  Miss. ;  16, 
battle  of  Champion's  Hill,  Miss. ;  17,  battle  of  Big  Black  River,  Miss. 

JUNE  15,  commencement  of  Lee's  second  invasion  of  Maryland ;  17, 
capture  of  the  iron-clad  Atlanta. 

JULY  1-3,  battle  of  Gettysburg,  Pa. ;  4,  capture  of  Vicksburg,  Miss.  ; 
8,  capture  of  Port  Hudson,  La. ;  13-16,  riot  in  New  York  ;  26,  capture  of 
Morgan  in  Ohio. 

SEPTEMBER  7,  capture  of  Fort  Wagner  and  Battery  Gregg  in  Charleston 
harbor ;  10,  capture  of  Little  Rock,  Ark.  ;  19,  20,  battle  of  Chickamauga,  Ga. 

NOVEMBER  18,  investment  of  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  by  Confederates ;  24, 
battle  of  Lookout  Mountain,  Ga. ;  25,  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge,  Ga. 

DECEMBER  3,  siege  of  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  raised. 

1  864.  FEBRUARY  1,  draft  ordered  ;  20,  Union  defeat  at  Olustee,  Fla. 

MARCH  7,  Banks's  Red  River  Expedition  starts  ;  13,  capture  of  Fort  de 
Russy,  La. ;  26,  Confederate  repulse  at  Cane  River,  La. 

APRIL  8,  Federal  defeat  at  Sabine  Cross  Roads,  La. ;  9,  Confederate 
repulse  at  Pleasant  Hill,  La. ;  12,  capture  of  Fort  Pillow,  Tenn.,  by  Con 
federates  ;  18,  capture  of  Plymouth,  N.  C.,  by  Confederates. 

MAY  3,  Army  of  the  Potomac  breaks  camp  for  an  advance  on  Rich 
mond  ;  5-7,  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  Ya. ;  7,  advance  of  Sherman  from 
Chattanooga,  Tenn. ;  May  8-12,  battles  near  Spottsylvania  C.  H.,  Va. ;  15, 
battles  of  Resaca,  Ga.,  and  New  Market,  Ya. ;  28,  battle  of  Dallas,  Ga. 

JUNE  3,  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  Ya, ;  14,  Grant  crosses  the  James  ;  19, 
engagement  between  the  Alabama  and  Kearsarge ;  22,  27,  battles  near  Kene- 
saw  Mountain,  Ga. 

JULY  5,  Early  invades  Maryland  ;  9,  battle  of  the  Monocacy,  Md. ;  20, 
22,  28,  battles  before  Atlanta,  Ga. ;  30,  explosion  of  mine  and  Union  re 
pulse  in  front  of  Petersburg,  Ya. 

AUGUST  5,  Federal  victory  in  Mobile  Bay;  18,  Weldon  R.  R.  seized. 

SEPTEMBER  2,  capture  of  Atlanta,  Ga. ;  19,  Federal  victory  at  Winches 
ter,  Ya. ;  22,  Federal  victory  at  Fisher's  Hill,  Ya. 

OCTOBER  19,  battle  of  Cedar  Creek,  Ya. ;  27,  battle  of  Hatcher's  Run ; 
ram  Albemarle  sunk  ;  31,  recapture  of  Plymouth,  N.  C.,  by  Federals. 

NOVEMBER  30,  battle  of  Franklin,  Tenn. 

DECEMBER  15,  16,  battle  in  front  of  Nashville,  Tenn. ;  21,  capture  of 
Savannah,  Ga. ;  24,  first  attack  on  Fort  Fisher,  N.  C. 

1865.  JANUARY  15,  capture  of  Fort  Fisher,  N.  C. 
FEBRUARY  17,  occupation  of  Columbia,  S.  C.,  by  Sherman ;  18,  capture 
of  Charleston,  S.  C. ;  22,  capture  of  Wilmington,  N.  C. 


292 


JOHNSON'S  ADMINISTBATION. 


[186.5 


MARCH  19,  20,  battle  of  Bentonsville,  N.  C.  ;  21,  occupation  of  Golds- 
boro. 

APRIL  2,  Confederate  lines  in  front  of  Petersburg  carried ;  3,  capture 
of  Petersburg  and  Kichmond  ;  6,  battle  of  Deatonsville,  Va. ;  9,  Lee's  sur 
render  ;  13,  capture  of  Mobile  and  Raleigh ;  26,  Johnston's  surrender. 

MAY  4,  Dick  Taylor's  surrender  ;  26,  Kirby  Smith's  surrender.  END  OF 
THE  CIVIL  WAR. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

EVENTS  SINCE   THE  CIVIL    WAR. 


MAIN  BUILDING  OF  THE  CENTENNIAL  EXHIBITION,  PHILADELPHIA,  1876. 

JOHNSON'S  ADMINISTRATION,  1865-1869. 

Andrew  Johnson,  the  vice-president,  on  Mr.  Lincoln's 
decease,  took  the  oath  of  office  as  executive  head  of  the 
nation  (April  15,  1865).  He  was  a  native  of  Raleigh,  N.  C., 
began  life  as  a  tailor's  apprentice,  was  a  stranger  to  schools, 
and  was  seventeen  years  old  before  he  could  read  or  write. 
Removing  to  Greenville,  Tenn.,  he  embraced  every  oppor 
tunity  to  improve  himself,  and  rose  through  a  succession  of 


1865]  RESULTS   OF   THE   CIVIL   WAR.  293 

public  offices  to  become  U.  S.  senator,  and  military  governor 
of  the  state  after  it  had  been  recovered  by  the  national  forces. 

Jefferson  Davis,  on  the  downfall  of  the  Confederacy,  had 
made  for  the  coast  in  the  hope  of  escaping  to  the  West  In 
dies.  A  body  of  Federal  cavalry,  however,  intercepted  him 
near  Irwinville,  in  southern  Georgia.  For  nearly  four  years 
he  was  under  indictment  for  treason,  part  of  the  time  con 
fined  in  Fortress  Monroe,  and  afterward  released  on  bail ; 
but  the  prosecution  was  finally  abandoned. 

Results  of  the  War. — The  civil  war  is  estimated  to  have 
cost  the  country  half  a  million  lives,  besides  nearly  as  many 
men  more,  disabled  by  wounds  or  disease.  A  Federal  debt 
of  $3,750,000,000  had  been  incurred.  The  industries  of  the 
country  had  been  unsettled.  In  addition  to  these  difficulties, 
about  a  million  soldiers  were  now  at  the  close  of  the  war 
to  be  discharged,  and  thrown  upon  the  community  without 
employment.  There  were  fears  of  disorder,  but  they  wTere 
unfounded,  the  disbanded  men  returning  peaceably  to  the 
pursuits  of  civil  life. 

The  most  important  result  of  the  war  was  the  ABOLITION 
OF  SLAVERY,  its  exciting  cause.  This  was  effected  by  an 
amendment  to  the  Constitution  (the  Thirteenth — see  Con 
stitution  at  the  close  of  the  volume),  proposed  by  Congress 
to  the  several  states,  ratified  by  the  requisite  number,  and 
on  the  18th  of  December,  1865,  announced  as  forming  part 
of  the  Constitution.  For  the  protection  of  the  emancipated 
slaves,  Congress  afterward  established  the  Freedmen's  Bu 
reau,  and  in  spite  of  the  president's  veto  passed  the  Civil- 
Rights  Bill,  securing  to  the  freedmen  the  rights  of  citizens 
(April  9,  1866). 

Reconstruction.— The  condition  of  the  Southern  States, 
particularly  those  which  had  been  the  principal  theatres  of 
war,  was  pitiable  in  the  extreme.  There  being  no  disposi 
tion  on  the  part  of  the  president  to  add  to  the  prevailing 
distress  by  pursuing  a  harsh  course  toward  those  who  had 


294  JOHNSON'S  ADMINISTRATION.  [1866 

recently  been  arrayed  against  the  government,  he  issued 
three  proclamations  of  amnesty,  the  last  of  which,  dated  on 
Christmas-day,  1868,  extended  pardon  unconditionally  to  all. 

The  Reconstruction  question, — that  is,  the  settlement  of 
the  terms  on  which  the  seceded  states  should  be  restored  to 
the  Union, — led  to  serious  difficulties  between  Congress  and 
the  president.  The  former  desired  more  positive  guarantees- 
against  infringements  on  the  rights  of  the  freedmen,  and 
accordingly  proposed  a  Fourteenth  Amendment  to  the  Con 
stitution,  which  recognized  all  persons  born  or  naturalized 
in  the  United  States  as  citizens,  and  prohibited  the  several 
states  from  making  any  law  which  should  abridge  their 
privileges.  It  also  provided  that  the  validity  of  the  public 
debt  incurred  in  the  civil  war  should  not  be  questioned  ;  but 
that  no  debt  contracted  for  the  purpose  of  warring  against 
the  Federal  government  should  be  assumed  or  paid  by  either 
the  United  States  or  any  state,  nor  any  claim  for  the  loss  or 
emancipation  of  slaves. 

This  amendment  was  adopted  in  1868,  and  was  followed 
two  years  later  by  the  Fifteenth  Amendment,  which  dis 
tinctly  declared  that  the  right  of  citizens  to  vote  should  not 
be  denied  by  any  state  "  on  account  of  race,  color,  or  pre 
vious  condition  of  servitude." 

Tennessee  was  the  first  to  ratify  the  Fourteenth  Amend 
ment,  and  to  be  reinstated  (July,  1866).  In  1868,  Arkansas, 
Alabama,  Florida,  Georgia,  Louisiana,  North  and  South 
Carolina,  followed  the  example  of  Tennessee,  and  were  re 
stored  to  their  former  relations.  The  good  work  was  con 
tinued  under  the  following  administration,  by  the  readmis- 
sion  of  Virginia,  Mississippi,  and  Texas  ;  and  in  the  spring 
of  1870  all  the  states  were  once  more  represented  in  Con 
gress. 

Impeachment. — The  breach  between  President  Johnson 
and  Congress  kept  widening.  It  led  to  the  passage  by  Con 
gress  of  the  Tenure-of -Office  Bill,  which  made  the  consent  of 


1869]  GRANT'S  ADMINISTRATION.  295 

the  Senate  necessary  to  removals  from  office.  When,  in  the 
face  of  this  bill,  Mr.  Johnson  attempted  to  remove  Secretary 
Stanton  from  the  war  department,  intense  excitement  was 
produced,  and  the  House  of  Representatives  impeached  the 
president  with  the  view  of  depriving  him  of  his  position. 
According  to  the  provisions  of  the  Constitution,  he  was  tried 
by  the  Senate  ;  but  less  than  two-thirds  of  that  body  having 
found  him  guilty,  he  was  acquitted. 

Remaining  Events. — The  purchase  of  Russian  America 
(Alaska),  a  cold  and  barren  region  valuable  only  for  its 
fisheries  and  furs,  was  made  during  this  administration  (Oc 
tober,  1867).  We  must  also  notice  the  arrival,  in  the  sum 
mer  of  1868,  of  an  embassy  from  China,  important  as  in 
dicating  that  this  great  empire,  with  its  hundreds  of  millions 
of  people,  is  laying  aside  its  exclusive  policy  and  opening 
its  doors  to  a  higher  civilization. 

The  presidential  election  of  1868  resulted  in  the  choice 
of  the  republican  candidates,  Gen.  Ulysses  S.  Grant,  and 
Schuyler  Colfax  of  Indiana,  over  the  democratic  nominees, 
Horatio  Seymour  of  New  York,  and  Francis  P.  Blair,  jr.,  of 
Missouri. 

GRANT'S  ADMINISTRATION,  1869-1877. 

President  Grant  was  a  graduate  of  the  Military  Academy 
at  West  Point.  After  serving  in  the  Mexican  War,  he  had 
resigned  his  commission  and  settled  down  in  mercantile  busi 
ness  at  Galena,  Illinois.  The  civil  war  summoned  him  once 
more  to  the  field  ;  to  his  successes  there  he  owed  his  ad 
vancement  to  the  highest  rank  in  the  army,  and  his  transfer 
from  that  position  to  the  presidential  chair.  Hamilton  Fish, 
of  New  York,  served  as  secretary  of  state  during  the  greater 
part  of  Grant's  terms. 

The  Pacific  Railroad,  a  great  work  in  which  the  govern 
ment  assisted,  was  completed  in  May,  1869.  This  important 
link  in  the  chain  of  communication  between  the  Atlantic  and 
the  Pacific  is  1,900  miles  in  length,  and  crossing  two  moun- 


296  GE ANT'S  ADMINISTRATION.  [is 71 

tain-ranges  connects  San  Francisco,  the  metropolis  of  Cali 
fornia,  with  Omaha  on  the  Missouri  River.  Its  completion 
was  the  occasion  of  great  rejoicings,  for  its  value  to  the 
country,  particularly  to  the  western  section,  is  incalculable. 

"The  Alabama  Claims,"  growing  out  of  the  damages  in 
flicted  on  American  commerce  by  Confederate  privateers 
fitted  out  in  the  ports  of  Great  Britain,  at  one  time  threat 
ened  trouble  with  the  power  just  named.  By  the  Treaty  of 
Washington  in  1871,  however,  it  was  agreed  that  this  ques 
tion,  as  well  as  the  interpretation  of  the  treaty  of  1846  as  to 
the  north-west  boundary,  should  be  settled  by  arbitration. 
The  Geneva  Tribunal,  to  which  the  Alabama  claims  were  re 
ferred,  adjudged  to  the  United  States  $15,500,000,  and  in 
September,  1873,  this  sum  was  paid  into  the  treasury. 
The  Emperor  of  Germany,  as  arbitrator  on  the  north-west 
boundary,  settled  the  question  agreeably  to  the  views  of  the 
United  States. 

Fires. — The  growth  of  Chicago,  the  metropolis  of  the 
North-west,  covering  the  site  of  old  Fort  Dearborn  (p.  214), 
has  been  without  a  parallel  even  among  the  western  cities. 
First  laid  out  in  1830,  it  had  by  1871  attained  a  population 
of  300,000  souls.  On  the  8th  and  9th  of  October  in  the 
latter  year,  this  magnificent  city  was  visited  by  a  terrible 
conflagration,  which  destroyed  $196,000,000  worth  of  prop 
erty  and  deprived  nearly  100,000  persons  of  their  homes. 
Such  was  the  enterprise  of  its  citizens,  however,  that  within 
four  years  few  traces  of  the  fire  were  left. 

In  1872,  a  similar  conflagration  laid  in  ruins  a  large  part 
of  the  city  of  Boston.  The  property  consumed  was  esti 
mated  at  not  less  than  $80,000,000. 

Re-election. — President  Grant  was  re-elected  by  the  re 
publican  party  in  1872,  with  Henry  Wilson,  U.  S.  Senator 
from  Massachusetts,  as  vice-president.  The  democratic  can 
didates,  Horace  Greeley,  long  prominent  in.  the  country  as 
the  conductor  of  the  New  York  Tribune,  and  B.  Gratz 


1872]  GRANT'S  ADMINISTRATION.  297 

Brown,  of  Missouri,  carried  but  six  states.  Soon  after  the 
election  Mr.  Greeley  died,  a  victim  to  the  excitements  and 
fatigues  of  the  campaign. 

The  Credit  Mobilier,  a  stock-company  which  had  con 
structed  part  of  the  Pacific  Railroad  and  realized  large  prof 
its  from  the  work,  was  the  subject  of  searching  investiga 
tions  on  the  part  of  Congress  during  the  winter  of  1872-3. 
It  was  ascertained  that  some  of  the  stock  had  found  its 
way  into  the  hands  of  members  of  Congress,  whose  votes 
were  suspected  of  having  been  thus  corruptly  influenced  in 
matters  involving  the  interests  of  the  road.  The  House  of 
Representatives  censured  two  of  its  members,  and  a  senator 
narrowly  escaped  expulsion. 

Modoc  War. — Early  in  Grant's  second  term,  the  Modocs, 
a  tribe  of  Indians  living  near  the  southern  boundary  of  Ore 
gon,  occasioned  serious  trouble.  It  was  the  old  story  over 
again.  They  had  bound  themselves  by  a  treaty  some  years 
before  to  surrender  their  lands  and  go  on  a  reservation  ;  but, 
when  the  time  came  for  their  removal,  they  refused  to  leave, 
and,  fleeing  to  inaccessible  "  lava-beds "  in  the  neighbor 
hood,  defied  the  efforts  of  the  government  to  dislodge  them. 
In  April,  1873,  peace-commissioners  went  out  to  treat  with 
them  under  a  flag  of  truce  ;  but  the  interview  was  suddenly 
terminated  by  the  savages'  treacherously  firing  on  the  whites 
and  killing  two  of  their  number.  An  active  campaign  was 
then  carried  on  against  the  Modocs  till  the  whole  band  was 
captured.  The  assassins  were  executed  and  the  rest  re 
moved. 

Political  difficulties  occurred  in  more  than  one  of  the 
Southern  States  during  Grant's  administration.  In  Louisi 
ana,  the  struggle  between  parties  for  the  control  of  the  state 
was  severe  and  protracted  for  several  years.  In  1873,  two 
returning-boards,  each  claiming  to  be  the  legal  one,  reported 
two  different  governors  as  elected — the  one  a  republican,  the 
other  a  democrat.  There  was,  of  course,  an  immediate  con- 


298  GRANT'S  ADMINISTRATION.  [1873 

flict  of  authority,  resulting  in  temporary  anarchy.  Kellogg, 
the  republican  incumbent,  was  sustained  by  the  president, 
but  was  looked  upon  by  the  opposite  party  as  having  no 
rightful  claim  to  the  position. 

Violent  demonstrations  were  repressed  for  the  time,  but 
broke  out  in  New  Orleans  in  the  fall  of  1874.  Twenty-six 
persons  lost  their  lives  in  a  street-conflict,  and  Governor 
Kellogg  was  obliged  to  seek  safety  in  the  Custom-House 
under  the  protection  of  the  Federal  flag.  Again  the  presi 
dent  interposed  in  Kellogg's  favor.  The  following  January, 
another  outbreak  occurred,  and  a  committee  of  the  House 
of  Representatives  was  sent  to  New  Orleans  for  its  adjust 
ment. 

At  the  election  held  in  the  fall  of  1876,  the  controversy 
was  renewed  with  increased  bitterness.  Fraud  was  charged 
on  each  party  by  its  opponents,  and  again  there  were  two 
rival  governors  and  legislatures.  President  Grant  now  de 
clined  to  interfere  any  further  in  the  affairs  of  the  state  than 
was  necessary  to  prevent  a  breach  of  the  peace.  His  suc 
cessor,  into  whose  administration  the  struggle  was  prolonged, 
withdrew  the  Federal  troops  which  had  up  to  this  time  pre 
vented  the  overthrow  of  the  republican  government,  and  the 
democratic  incumbent  quietly  assumed  undisputed  control. 

A  similar  conflict  between  parties  agitated  South  Caro 
lina  ;  it  was  similarly  disposed  of  by  the  president  in  1877, 
and  with  the  like  result. 

Business  depression  paralyzed  the  industries  of  the  nation 
in  1873  and  for  several  years  immediately  following.  It  was 
the  natural  result  of  the  war,  and  was  attended  with  ruin  to 
hundreds  of  commercial  and  manufacturing  establishments, 
as  well  as  with  great  distress  to  the  laboring-classes.  The 
revulsions  of  1837  and  1857  were  neither  so  far-reaching 
nor  so  long  continued.  Not  till  1877  did  the  clouds  in  any 
degree  seem  to  lift.  Then  there  was  a  slight  improvement, 
and  with  the  blessing;  of  Heaven  on  the  efforts  of  the  people, 


1875] 


GRANT'S  ADMTNISTEATION. 


299 


PACIFIC   STATES 

AND 

TERRITORIES 


now  taught  the  necessity  of  prudence,  economy,  and  unre 
mitting  industry,  it  was  hoped  that  the  country  would  soon 
recover  its  wonted  prosperity. 

Different  measures  had  of  course  been  proposed  for  the 
removal  of  the  financial  difficulties  which  overhung  the  land. 
"  Inflationists "  had  advocated  an  increased  issue  of  paper 
money  ;  others  spurned  "  the  rag  baby,"  as  they  called  it, 
insisted  that  inflation  would  but  put  off  the  evil  day,  and 
called  for  a  contraction  of  the  currency  and  a  speedy  return 
to  specie  payments.  A  majority  in  Congress  favored  the 


300  GRANT'S  ADMINISTRATION.  [1875 

latter  view,  and  early  in  1875  a  bill  was  passed  fixing  Jan 
uary  1,  1879,  as  the  day  when  specie  payments  should  be 
resumed. 

The  Thirty-eighth  State, — Colorado,  whose  valuable  de 
posits  of  the  precious  metals,  as  well  as  its  advantages  for 
stock-raising,  had  attracted  to  its  sightly  table-lands  a  pop 
ulation  of  125,000,  applied  for  admission  to  the  Union  in 
1875  ;  and,  in  March  of  that  year,  Congress  granted  it  au 
thority  to  frame  a  constitution.  In  the  summer  of  1876,  it 
took  its  place  in  the  Union,  by  the  proclamation  of  the  presi 
dent,  as  "  the  Rocky  Mountain  State."  (See  Map,  p.  299.) 

Deaths  of  Public  Men. — Several  whom  the  nation  de 
lighted  to  honor  were  called  to  their  rest  during  Grant's  ad 
ministration.  Among  these  were  William  H.  Seward,  who 
had  ably  managed  the  foreign  relations  of  the  country  dur 
ing  Lincoln's  administration  (1872)  ;  Morse,  the  inventor  of 
the  magnetic  telegraph  (1872)  ;  Chief-Justice  Chase,  who 
had  skillfully  provided  ways  and  means  during  the  trying 
days  of  the  civil  war  (1873)  ;  Charles  Sumner,  of  Massa 
chusetts,  a  leader  in  the  U.  S.  Senate  (1874)  ;  and  Vice- 
President  Wilson  (1875). 

The  Centennial  Year,  1876,  marking  the  completion  of  a 
century  of  national  existence,  was  appropriately  honored  in 
different  parts  of  the  country,  particularly  on  the  4th  of 
July.  The  crowning  celebration  of  the  year  was  a  great  In 
ternational  Exhibition,  opened  at  Philadelphia  on  the  10th 
of  May,  the  grandest  "  world's  fair  "  the  world  had  ever 
seen.  The  inclosed  grounds  covered  an  area  of  236  acres, 
and  contained  200  buildings,  some  of  them  of  great  magni 
tude.  All  nations  contributed  of  their  productions  and  were 
represented  by  visitors,  the  admissions  during  the  six  months 
that  the  exhibition  remained  open  falling  little  short  of 
10,000,000. 

Indian  War. — Though  the  government  had  pursued  a 
conciliatory  course  to  the  Indians,  a  hostile  disposition  was 


1876] 


GRANT'S  ADMINISTRATION. 


301 


ClTSTER's   LAST  BATTLE-FIELD. 


manifested  early  in  1876  by  the 
Sioux  in  Dakota,  Montana  (mon- 
tah'-nti),  and  Wyo'ming.  They 
refused  to  settle  upon  a  reser 
vation,  and  attacked  friendly 
Indians  under  the  protection  of  the  United  States.  It  was 
necessary  to  reduce  them  by  force.  In  June,  Gen.  Custer, 
with  part  of  his  regiment,  came  upon  the  hostile  Sioux, 
2,500  strong,  near  the  Little  Big  Horn  River,  and  without 
waiting  for  support  dashed  upon  them.  His  whole  force 
was  overwhelmed  and  destroyed,  Custer  himself  being  slain 
while  fighting  gallantly.  A  brave  who  was  in  the  battle 
afterward  related  how  "  the  White  Chief,"  when  his  com 
rades  had  all  fallen  and  his  firearms  were  emptied,  un 
dauntedly  defended  himself  with  his  sword,  until  a  bullet 
laid  him  in  the  dust.  The  Federal  army,  re-enforced,  sub 
sequently  pursued  and  broke  up  the  Sioux,  and  compelled 
most  of  them  to  surrender. 


302  INAUGURATION   OF   PRESIDENT   HAYES.  [l87T 

The  election  of  1876  was  unusually  exciting.  The  can 
didates  were,  on  the  republican  side,  Governor  Rutherford 
B.  Hayes,  of  Ohio,  and  William  A.  Wheeler,  of  New  York  ; 
on  the  democratic,  Governor  Samuel  J.  Tilden,  of  New 
York,  and  Governor  Thomas  A.  Hendricks,  of  Indiana.  The 
contest  was  close,  and  the  issue  for  some  time  doubtful  ; 
charges  were  made  of  fraud  on  the  one  side  and  intimidation 
on  the  other.  From  several  of  the  states  two  opposing 
certificates  were  handed  in.  The  trouble  was  finally  settled 
by  the  passage  of  an  act  of  Congress  referring  all  disputed 
certificates  to  a  commission,  consisting  of  five  senators,  five 
representatives,  and  five  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  United  States. 

The  result  was  that  Hayes  and  Wheeler  were  declared 
to  have  received  one  more  electoral  vote  than  their  oppo 
nents  ;  and,  accordingly,  they  were  inaugurated  on  the  5th 
of  March,  1877.  William  M.  Evarts,  of  New  York,  was 
appointed  secretary  of  state,  and  Senator  John  Sherman,  of 
Ohio,  secretary  of  the  treasury. 

HAYES'S  ADMINISTRATION,  1877- 

Rutherford  Birchard  Hayes  was  bora  October  4,  1822, 
at  Delaware,  Ohio.  A  lawyer  by  profession,  shortly  after 
the  Civil  War  broke  out  he  entered  the  army,  and  by  faith 
ful  service  raised  himself  from  the  rank  of  major  to  that  of 
brevet  major-general.  After  the  war  he  became  one  of  the 
standard-bearers  of  the  republican  party  in  his  native  state, 
was  twice  sent  to  Congress,  and  three  times  elected  govern 
or  of  Ohio. 

Declared  president  under  peculiar  circumstances  and 
amid  great  political  excitement,  Gen.  Hayes  had  serious  diffi 
culties  to  contend  with  ;  but  his  conciliatory  policy  toward 
the  South,  particularly  in  relation  to  the  Louisiana  and  South 
Carolina  controversies  (p.  298)  cast  oil  upon  the  troubled 


1877]  HAYES'S  ADMINISTRATION.  303 

waters.  A  portion  of  the  summer  was  spent  by  the  presi 
dent,  with  members  of  his  cabinet,  in  visiting  different  parts 
of  the  country,  and  the  reception  accorded  him  showed  that 
his  course  met  with  general  approval. 

Railroad  Strike.— The  summer  of  1877  was  memorable 
for  a  great  railroad  strike,  which,  commencing  among  the 
employes  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Company  on  the  16th 
of  July,  rapidly  extended  northward  to  Canada  and  as  far 
west  as  the  Mississippi.  The  depression  in  business  having 
necessitated  a  general  reduction  of  wages,  to  which  the  men 
were  unwilling  to  submit,  they  quit  work  on  the  different 
roads  as  the  news  of  the  commencement  of  the  strike  reached 
them,  prevented  new  hands  by  threats  and  violence  from 
taking  their  places,  and  announced  that  neither  freight  nor 
passenger  trains  would  be  allowed  to  run. 

The  movement  soon  became  so  formidable,  particularly 
in  West  Virginia,  Maryland,  and  Pennsylvania,  that  the 
militia  were  unable  to  cope  with  it,  and  the  federal  govern 
ment  was  appealed  to  for  aid  in  protecting  the  rights  and 
property  of  the  railroad  companies.  At  Pittsburgh  a  col 
lision  took  place  between  the  state  troops  and  the  rioters, 
which  resulted  in  the  destruction  of  many  lives  and  $6,000,000 
worth  of  property — cars,  locomotives,  machine-shops,  depots, 
and  large  quantities  of  freight,  being  burned  by  the  mob, 
who  controlled  the  city  for  two  days.  Riots  also  occurred 
at  St.  Louis,  Chicago,  Reading  and  Scranton,  Pa.,  and  other 
cities.  Three  weeks  elapsed  before,  with  the  aid  of  such 
national  troops  as  could  be  gathered,  order  was  fully  restored, 
and  the  regular  running  of  trains  on  all  the  roads  was  re 
sumed. 

The  summer  of  1877  was  one  of  unprecedented  fruitful- 
ness  throughout  the  country.  Immense  crops  of  wheat  and 
corn  gave  an  impetus  to  business  which  it  had  not  felt  for 
years.  It  seemed  as  if  the  hopes  of  reviving  prosperity  so 
long  entertained  were  at  length  to  be  fully  realized. 


304  KECENT   HISTOKY   OF   MEXICO   AND   CANADA. 


REVIEW    BY    DATES. 

Continue  the  CHRONOLOGICAL  RECORD  from  1860  to  1877,  presenting 
under  each  year  its  principal  events.  For  the  years  of  the  war,  select  the 
most  important  battles  from  the  Abstract  on  pages  290,  291,  and  292.  For 
the  subsequent  years,  glean  from  the  text  the  events  that  seem  to  be  of  most 
moment. 


WE  may  here  with  profit  take  a  brief  view  of  the  recent  history  of  Mex 
ico  and  Canada,  the  nearest  neighbors  of  the  United  States. 

MEXICO. — After  the  war  with  the  United  States,  a  series  of  revolutions 
took  place  in  Mexico,  till  in  1858  Juarez  (hoo-ah 'rctJi)  established  himself  as 
president.  His  administration  became  popular,  by  reason  of  his  instituting 
various  reforms.  The  inability  of  the  government,  however,  to  meet  the 
claims  of  France  for  damages  alleged  to  have  been  sustained  by  French 
subjects  resident  in  the  country,  afforded  the  Emperor  Napoleon  III.  a  pre 
text  for  sending  over  an  army  to  enforce  his  demands,  which  he  did  in  1863. 
Part  of  the  country  was  overrun,  the  capital  was  seized,  and  the  government 
overthrown.  Mexico  was  constituted  an  empire,  and  the  Archduke  Maxi 
milian,  brother  of  the  emperor  of  Austria,  was  placed  at  its  head. 

The  United  States  refused  to  acknowledge  Maximilian,  and  denied  the 
right  of  any  European  power  to  establish  a  monarchy  in  North  America. 
In  compliance  with  its  remonstrances,  the  French  army  was  withdrawn  in 
1867.  Maximilian,  unable  to  sustain  himself,  was  captured  and  shot,  and 
the  republic  was  restored.  Latterly,  the  country  has  been  comparatively 
peaceful.  Provision  has  been  made  for  public  education,  and  the  condition 
of  Mexico  has  improved,  though  the  raids  of  border-thieves  into  Texas  have 
given  great  dissatisfaction  to  the  United  States. 

CANADA. — The  British  possessions  north  of  the  United  States  are  now, 
with  the  exception  of  Newfoundland,  all  united  in  what  is  known  as  "  The 
Dominion  of  Canada."  The  Dominion  consists  of  seven  provinces — Ontario, 
Quebec,  Nova  Scotia,  New  Brunswick,  Manitoba,  British  Columbia,  and 
Prince  Edward  Island — together  with  Hudson  Bay  Territory,  which  was 
purchased  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  and  annexed.  The  affairs  of  each 
province  are  managed  by  its  own  legislature,  while  those  of  the  whole  are 
regulated  by  a  parliament  in  which  all  are  represented,  a  governor  general 
being  the  executive  head.  This  union  lias  consolidated  the  strength  of  the 
colonies,  and  led  to  the  undertaking  of  important  internal  improvements. 


PROGRESS    OF   THE    COUNTRY.  305 


CONCLUSION. 

WE  have  thus  traced  the  history  of  our  country  from 
feeble  beginnings,  through  its  early  struggles  and  later 
triumphs,  till  we  have  seen  it  become  one  of  the  great  powers 
of  the  earth.  Our  Federal  Republic  now  (1877)  consists  of 
thirty-eight  states  and  ten  territories,  besides  the  District 
of  Columbia,  a  tract  of  sixty-four  square  miles,  in  which  the 
national  capital  is  situated. 

Within  ninety  years  our  population  has  increased  from 
four  to  forty-five  millions.  Nearly  eighty  thousand  miles  of 
railroad,  and  more  than  that  number  of  telegraph-line,  trav 
erse  the  land  in  all  directions  and  connect  its  principal  cities. 
The  West,  rich  in  the  precious  metals,  richer  still  in  its  vast 
fields  of  the  useful  minerals,  richest  of  all  in  its  agricultural 
resources,  though  populated  in  parts  with  unprecedented 
rapidity,  is  still  in  its  infancy ;  its  greatness,  when  it  is  fully 
developed,  who  can  estimate  ? 

The  ingenuity  of  the  people  of  the  United  States  has 
passed  into  a  proverb.  To  them  are  due  many  of  the  inven 
tions  which  have  contributed  most  to  the  comfort  and  im 
provement  of  the  race.  Not  to  mention  other  triumphs  of 
their  manufacturing  industry,  their  printing-presses  and 
sewing-machines,  their  safes  and  fire-engines,  their  life 
boats  and  agricultural  implements,  have  no  equals  else 
where.  The  general  diffusion  of  intelligence,  and  the  com 
fortable  condition  of  the  working-classes,  are  specially  no 
ticeable  ;  they  are  attributable,  in  a  great  measure,  to  the 
glorious  system  of  common-school  education  which  is  the 
pride  of  our  country. 

It  is  not  long  since  it  was  asked,  "  Who  reads  an  Amer 
ican  book  ?  "  Now  the  question  is,  who  does  not  cherish  as 
household  words  the  names  of  our  charming  fiction- writers, 


306 


AMERICAN   WRITERS. 


Irving,  Cooper,  and 
Hawthorne  —  our 
historians,  Bancroft, 
Prescott,  and  Mot 
ley — our  poets,  Bry 
ant  and  Longfellow, 
Halleck  and  Whit- 
tier,  Lowell  and 
Holmes  ?  South,  as 
well  as  North,  has 
contributed  stars  to 
the  galaxy  of  Amer 
ican  writers  and 
scientists,  as  the  names  of  Simms  and  Kennedy,  Poe  and 
Maury,  abundantly  testify.  In  magazines  and  school-books 
especially,  the  United  States  has  nothing  to  fear  from  a 
comparison  with  the  most  cultivated  of  the  older  nations. 

The  record  of  our  country  thus  far  has  been  honorable 
and  brilliant.  Continuing  in  such  a  career,  with  the  safe 
guards  of  education  thrown  around  its  citizens,  may  it  prove 
to  the  world,  despite  the  fate  of  republics  heretofore,  that 
there  is  no  reason  why  free  institutions  may  not  be  eternal ! 


THE      END. 


TABLE   OF  THE    SEVERAL  STATES, 


SHOWING    THE    FIRST    SETTLEMENT,    DATE   OF    ADMISSION,    AREA,    POPULATION, 
AND    NUMBER    OF   ELECTORAL   VOTES. 


STATE, 

First  Settled  at 

Year 
of 
Admis 
sion. 

Area  in 
Square 
Miles. 

Population, 
Census  of 
1870. 

P 

Virginia  . 

Jamestown 

, 

88,348 

1,225,163 

11 

New  York  . 

New  York  City     . 

-2 

47,000 

4,382,759 

35 

Massachusetts 

Plymouth 

OQ 

7,800 

1,457,351 

13 

New  Jersey 
New  Hampshire     . 

Bergen   . 
Dover,  Portsmouth  . 

a 

8,320 
9,280 

906,096 
318,300 

9 
5 

Delaware     . 

Wilmington  . 

-2 

2,120 

125,015 

3 

Connecticut     . 

Hartford     . 

2 

4,750 

537,454 

6 

Maryland     . 

St.  Mary's 

H 

11,124 

780,894 

8 

Ehode  Island  . 

Providence 

•a 

1.306 

217,353 

4 

North  Carolina    . 

Near  Albemarle  Sound 

D 

50,704 

1,071,361 

10 

South  Carolina 

Port  Royal 

'Ec 
•p 

34,000 

705,606 

7 

Pennsylvania 
Georgia   . 

Philadelphia  . 
Savannah  . 

0 

46,000 
58,000 

3,521,951 
1,184,109 

29 
11 

14.  Vermont 

Fort  Dummer 

1791 

10,212 

330,551 

5 

15.  Kentucky 
16.  Tennessee   . 

Boonesborough 
Fort  Loudon  . 

1792 
1796 

37,680 
45,600 

1.321,011 

1,258.520 

12 

12 

17.  Ohio 

Marietta     . 

1802 

39,964 

2,665,260 

22 

18.  Louisiana     . 

New  Orleans  . 

1812 

41,346 

726,915 

8 

19.  Indiana    . 

Vincennes 

1816 

33,809 

1,680,637 

15 

20.  Mississippi  . 

Biloxi     . 

1817 

47,156 

827.922 

8 

21.  Illinois     . 

Kaskaskia 

1818 

55.410 

2,539^891 

21 

22.  Alabama      . 

Mobile    . 

1819 

50,722 

996.992 

10 

23.  Maine     . 

Monhegan 

1820 

35,000 

626,915 

7 

24.  Missouri 

St.  Genevieve 

1821 

65,350 

1,721,295 

15 

25.  Arkansas 

Arkansas  Post  . 

1836 

52,198 

484,471 

6 

26.  Michigan     . 

Detroit  . 

1837 

56,451 

1,184,059 

11 

27.  Florida    . 

St.  Augustine    . 

1845 

59,268 

187,748 

4 

28.  Texas  . 

San  Antonio  . 

1845 

274,356 

818,579 

8 

29.  Iowa 

Dubuque    . 

1846 

55,045 

1,194,020 

11 

30.  Wisconsin   . 

Green  Bay 

1848 

53,924 

1,054,670 

10 

31.  California 

San  Diego  . 

1850 

188,981 

560,247 

6 

32.  Minnesota    . 

Fort  Snelling 

1858 

83,531 

439,706 

5 

33.  Oregon    . 

Astoria 

1859 

95,274 

90,923 

3 

34.  Kansas 

• 

1861 

81,318 

864.399 

5 

35.  West  Virginia 

1863 

23,000 

442,014 

5 

36.  Nevada 

Carson  City    . 

1864 

104,125 

42,491 

8 

37.  Nebraska 

1867 

75,995 

122,993 

8 

38.  Colorado      . 

.        .        . 

1876 

104,500 

39,864 

3 

Territories. 

Org^d 

1.  Utah 

1850 

84,476 

86,786 

2.  New  Mexico 

. 

1850 

121,201 

91,874 

3.  Washington    . 

• 

1853 

69,994 

23,955 

4.  Dakota 

% 

1861 

148,932 

14,181 

5.  Arizona   . 

•t 

1863 

113.916 

9,658 

6.  Idaho  . 

1863 

86,294 

14.999 

1864 

145.776 

20.595 

8.  Wyoming    . 

. 

1868 

97.883 

9,118 

9.  Indian     . 

68.991 

68,152 

10.  Alaska 

577,390 

29,097 

Dist.  Columbia 

64 

131,700 

Total 

.        .        .        . 

3,603,884 

38,655,620 

369 

TABLE  OF   PRESIDENTS  AND  VICE-PRESIDENTS. 


No. 

PRESIDENTS. 

State. 

In  Office. 

VICE-PRESIDENTS. 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 
C 

7 

8 
8 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 

16 
17 
18 
19 

George  Washington  
John  Adams  

Virginia  
Massachusetts.  . 

Virginia  

Virginia  

Virginia  
Massachusetts.  . 

1789-1797 
1797-1801 

1801-1809 

1809-1817 

1817-1825 
1825-1829 

1829-1837 

1837-1841 
1841-1  mo. 
1841-1845 
1845-1849 

1849-1850 
1850-1853 
1853-1857 
1857-1861 

1861-1865 
1865-1869 
1869-1877 

1877  

John  Adams,  of  Mass. 
Thomas  Jefterson,  Va. 
^  Aaron  Burr,  N.  Y. 
}  George  Clinton,  N.  Y. 
J  George  Clinton,  N.  Y. 
(  Elbridge  Gerry,  Mass. 
Daniel  D  Tompkins.N.  Y. 
John  C.  Calhoun,  S.  C. 
(  John  C.  Calhoun,  S.  C. 
}  Martin  Van  Buren,  N.Y. 
Eichard  M  Johnson,  Ky. 
John  Tyler,  Va. 

George  M.  Dallas.  Pa. 
Millard  Fillmore,  N.  Y. 

William  E.  King.  Ala. 
John  C.  Breckinridge,  Ky. 
j  Hannibal  Hamlin,  Me. 
|  Andrew  Johnson,  Tenn. 

(,  Schuyler  Colfax,  Ind. 
)  Henry  Wilson,  Mass. 
William  A.  Wheeler,  N.Y. 

Thomas  Jefferson  
James  Madison 

James  Monroe  
John  Quincy  Adams  

Andrew  Jackson  .  . 

Martin  Van  Buren  
William  Henry  Harrison 
John  Tyler 

New  York  
Ohio  

Virginia 

James  Knox  Polk  . 

Zachary  Taylor.  .  . 
Millard  Fillmore  

Louisiana  
New  York  
New  Hampshire 
Pennsylvania... 

Illinois  

Franklin  Pierce... 

James  Buchanan... 

Abraham  Lincoln 

Andrew  Johnson  
Ulysses  S.  Grant  
Eutherford  B.  Hayes... 

Illinois  
Ohio  

LEADING     DATES. 

[If  the  suggestions  made  at  the  ends  of  the  Chapters  have  been  followed,  the 
student  will  have  a  CHRONOLOGICAL  EECORD  of  the  principal  events  in  American  his 
tory,  prepared  by  himself.  We  shall  here  present  only  a  few  leading  dates,  which 
should  be  remembered  as  land-marks.] 

Discovery  of  America  by  Columbus,  1492. 

First  permanent  English  settlement,  at  Jamestown,  1607. 

Landing  of  the  Pilgrims  at  Plymouth,  1620. 

Washington  born,  1732. 

French  and  Indian  War,  1754-1763. 

Stamp  Act  in  force,  1765-1766. 

Eevolutionary  War,  1775-1783. 

Declaration  of  Independence,  July  4,  1776. 

Government  organized  under  the  Constitution,  1789. 

Washington  City  made  the  capital,  1800. 

Louisiana  purchased  from  France,  1803. 

War  with  Great  Britain,  1812-1815. 

Florida  ceded  to  the  United  States  by  Spain,  1819. 

Mexican  War,  1846-1848. 

California  obtained  by  treaty,  1848. 

The  Civil  War,  1861-1865. 

Emancipation  Proclamation,  1868. 

Slavery  abolished  in  the  United  States,  1865. 


THE  DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE, 

PASSED  JULY  4,   1776. 


A.  Declaration  by  the  Representatives  of  the  United  States 
of  America,  in  Congress  assembled. 

WHEN,  in  the  course  of  human  events,  it  becomes  necessary  for  one  people 
to  dissolve  the  political  bands  which  have  connected  them  with  another,  and 
to  assume,  among  the  powers  of  the  earth,  the  separate  and  equal  station  to 
which  the  laws  of  nature  and  of  nature's  God  entitle  them,  a  decent  respect  to 
the  opinions  of  mankind  requires  that  they  should  declare  the  causes  which 
impel  them  to  the  separation. 

We  hold  these  truths  to  be  self-evident,  that  all  men  are  created  equal ; 
that  they  are  endowed  by  their  Creator  with  certain  unalienable  rights  ;  that 
among  these  are  life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness.  That,  to  secure 
these  rights,  governments  are  instituted  among  men,  deriving  their  just  pow 
ers  from  the  consent  of  the  governed;  that,  whenever  any  form  of  govern 
ment  becomes  destructive  of  these  ends,  it  is  the  right  of  the  people  to  alter 
or  to  abolish  it,  and  to  institute  a  new  government,  laying  its  foundation  on 
such  principles,  and  organizing  its  powers  in  such  form,  as  to  them  shall 
seem  most  likely  to  effect  their  safety  and  happiness.  Prudence,  indeed,  will 
dictate  that  governments  long  established,  should  not  be  changed  for  light 
and  transient  causes  ;  and,  accordingly,  all  experience  hath  shown,  that  man 
kind  are  more  disposed  to  suffer,  while  evils  are  sufferable,  than  to  right 
themselves  by  abolishing  the  forms  to  which  they  are  accustomed.  But,  when 
a  long  train  of  abuses  and  usurpations,  pursuing  invariably  the  same  object, 
evinces  a  design  to  reduce  them  under  absolute  despotism,  it  is  their  right,  it 
is  their  duty,  to  throw  off  such  government,  and  to  provide  new  guards  for 
their  future  security.  Such  has  been  the  patient  sufferance  of  these  colonies, 
and  such  is  now  the  necessity  which  constrains  them  to  alter  their  former 
systems  of  government.  The  history  of  the  present  king  of  Great  Britain  is 
a  history  of  repeated  injuries  and  usurpations,  all  having  in  direct  object  the 
establishment  of  an  absolute  tyranny  over  these  States.  To  prove  this,  let 
facts  be  submitted  to  a  candid  world  : — 

He  has  refused  his  assent  to  laws  the  most  wholesome  and  necessary  for 
the  public  good. 

He  has  forbidden  his  governors  to  pass  laws  of  immediate  and  pressing 
importance,  unless  suspended  in  their  operation  till  his  assent  should  be  ob 
tained  ;  and,  when  so  suspended,  he  has  utterly  neglected  to  attend  to  them. 

He  has  refused  to  pass  other  laws  for  the  accommodation  of  large  districts 
of  people,  unless  those  people  would  relinquish  the  right  of  representation  in 
the  legislature  ;  a  right  inestimable  to  them,  and  formidable  to  tyrants  only. 

He  has  called  together  legislative  bodies  at  places  unusual,  uncomfortable, 
and  distant  from  the  depository  of  their  public  records,  for  the  sole  purpose 
of  fatiguing  them  into  compliance  with  his  measures. 

He  has  dissolved  representative  houses  repeatedly,  for  opposing,  with 
manly  firmness,  his  invasions  on  the  rights  of  the  people. 

He  has  refused,  for  a  long  time  alter  such  dissolutions,  to  cause  others  to 
be  elected;  whereby  the  legislative  powers,  incapable  of  annihilation,  have 


310         DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE. 

returned  to  the  people  at  large  for  their  exercise  ;  the  State  remaining,  in  the 
mean  time,  exposed  to  all  the  danger  of  invasion  from  without,  and  convul 
sions  within. 

He  has  endeavored  to  prevent  the  population  of  these  States ;  for  that  pur 
pose,  obstructing  the  laws  for  naturalization  of  foreigners ;  refusing  to  pass 
others  to  encourage  their  migration  hither,  and  raising  the  conditions  of  new 
appropriations  of  lands. 

He  has  obstructed  the  administration  of  justice,  by  refusing  his  assent  to 
laws  for  establishing  judiciary  powers. 

He  has  made  judges  dependent  on  his  will  alone,  for  the  tenure  of  their 
offices,  and  the  amount  and  payment  of  their  salaries. 

He  has  erected  a  multitude  of  new  offices,  and  sent  hither  swarms  of  offi 
cers  to  harass  our  people,  and  eat  out  their  substance. 

He  has  kept  among  us,  in  times  of  peace,  standing  armies,  without  the 
consent  of  our  legislature. 

He  has  aifected  to  render  the  military  independent  of,  and  superior  to,  the 
civil  power. 

He  has  combined  with  others  to  subject  us  to  a  jurisdiction  foreign  to 
our  constitution,  and  unacknowledged  by  our  laws ;  giving  his  assent  to  their 
acts  of  pretended  legislation  : 

For  quartering  large  bodies  of  armed  troops  among  us : 

For  protecting  them,  by  a  mock  trial,  from  punishment  for  any  murders 
which  they  should  commit  on  the  inhabitants  of  these  States  : 

For  cutting  off  our  trade  with  all  parts  of  the  world : 

For  imposing  taxes  on  us  without  our  consent : 

For  depriving  us,  in  many  cases,  of  the  benefits  of  trial  by  jury : 

For  transporting  us  beyond  seas  to  be  tried  for  pretended  offences  : 

For  abolishing  the  free  system  of  English  laws  in  a  neighboring  province, 
establishing  therein  an  arbitrary  government,  and  enlarging  its  boundaries, 
so  as  to  render  it  at  once  an  example  and  fit  instrument  for  introducing  the 
same  absolute  rule  into  these  colonies  : 

For  taking  away  our  charters,  abolishing  our  most  valuable  laws,  and  al 
tering,  fundamentally,  the  powers  of  our  governments  : 

For  suspending  our  own  legislatures,  and  declaring  themselves  invested 
with  power  to  legislate  for  us  in  all  cases  whatsoever. 

He  has  abdicated  government  here,  by  declaring  us  out  of  his  protection 
and  waging  war  against  us. 

He  has  plundered  our  seas,  ravaged  our  coasts,  burnt  our  towns,  and  de 
stroyed  the  lives  of  our  people. 

He  is,  at  this  time,  transporting  large  armies  of  foreign  mercenaries  to 
complete  the  works  of  death,  desolation,  and  tyranny,  already  begun,  with 
circumstances  of  cruelty  and  perfidy  scarcely  paralleled  in  the  most  barbarous 
ages,  and  totally  unworthy  the  head  of  a  civilized  nation. 

He  has  constrained  our  fellow-citizens,  taken  captive  on  the  high-seas,  to 
bear  arms  against  their  country,  to  become  the  executioners  of  their  friends 
and  brethren,  or  to  fall  themselves  by  their  hands. 

He  has  excited  domestic  insurrections  amongst  us,  and  has  endeavored  to 
bring  on  the  inhabitants  of  our  frontiers  the  merciless  Indian  savages,  whose 
known  rule  of  warfare  is  an  undistinguished  destruction  of  all  ages,  sexes, 
and  conditions. 

In  every  stage  of  these  oppressions  we  have  petitioned  for  redress,  in  tho 


DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE.         311 

most  humble  terms  ;  our  repeated  petitions  have  been  answered  only  by  re 
peated  injury.  A  prince  whose  character  is  thus  marked  by  every  act  which 
may  define  a  tyrant,  is  unfit  to  be  the  ruler  of  a  free  people. 

Nor  have  we  been  wanting  in  attention  to  our  British  brethren.  "We  have 
warned  them,  from  time  to  time,  of  attempts  made  by  their  legislature  to 
extend  an  unwarrantable  jurisdiction  over  us.  We  have  reminded  them  of 
the  circumstances  of  our  emigration  and  settlement  here.  We  have  appealed 
to  their  native  justice  and  magnanimity,  and  we  have  conjured  them,  by  the 
ties  of  our  common  kindred,  to  disavow  these  usurpations,  which  would  in 
evitably  interrupt  our  connections  and  correspondence.  They,  too,  have 
been  deaf  to  the  voice  of  justice  and  consanguinity.  We  must,  therefore,  ac 
quiesce  in  the  necessity  which  denounces  our  separation,  and  hold  them,  as 
we  hold  the  rest  of  mankind,  enemies  in  war,  in  peace  friends. 

We,  therefore,  the  representatives  of  the  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA,  in 
general  Congress  assembled,  appealing  to  the  Supreme  Judge  of  the  world 
for  the  rectitude  of  our  intentions,  do,  in  the  name  and  by  the  authority  of 
the  good  people  of  these  colonies,  solemnly  publish  and  declare,  That  these 
United  Colonies  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  FREE  AND  INDEPENDENT  STATES  ; 
that  they  are  absolved  from  all  allegiance  to  the  British  crown,  and  that  all 
political  connection  between  them  and  the  State  of  Great  Britain,  is,  and 
ought  to  be,  totally  dissolved  ;  and  that,  as  free  and  independent  States,  they 
have  full  power  to  levy  war,  conclude  peace,  contract  alliances,  establish 
commerce,  and  to  do  all  other  acts  and  things  which  independent  States  may 
of  right  do.  And,  for  the  support  of  this  declaration,  with  a  firm  reliance  on 
the  protection  of  Divine  Providence,  we  mutually  pledge  to  each  other,  our 
lives,  our  fortunes,  and  our  sacred  honor. 

(Signed)  JOHN  HANCOCK. 

New  Hampshire. — JOSIAH  BARTLETT,  WM.  WHIPPLE,  MATTHEW  THORNTON. 

Massachusetts  Bay. — SAMUEL  ADAMS,  JOHN  ADAMS,  EGBERT  TREAT  PAINE, 
ELBRIDGE  GERRY. 

Rhode  Island. — STEPHEN  HOPKINS,  WILLIAM  ELLERY. 

Connecticut. — EOGER  SHERMAN,  SAMUEL  HUNTINGDON,  WILLIAM  WILLIAMS, 
OLIVER  WOLCOTT. 

New  York. — WM.  FLOYD,  PHILIP  LIVINGSTON,  FRANCIS  LEWIS,  LEWIS  MORRIS. 

New  Jersey. — EICHARD  STOCKTON,  JOHN  WITHERSPOON,  FRANCIS  HOPKINSON, 
JOHN  HART,  ABRAHAM  CLARK. 

Pennsylvania. — EGBERT  MORRIS,  BENJAMIN  Eusn,  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN, 
JOHN  MORTON,  GEORGE  CLYMER,  JAMES  SMITH,  GEORGE  TAYLOR,  JAMES  WIL 
SON,  GEORGE  Eoss. 

Delaware. — C.ESAR  EODNEY,  GEORGE  EEAD,  THOMAS  M'KEAN. 

Maryland. — SAMUEL  CHASE,  WILLIAM  PACA,  THOMAS  STONE,  CHARLES  CAR 
ROL,  of  Carrollton. 

Virginia. — GEORGE  WYTHE,  EICHARD  HENRY  LEE,  THOMAS  JEFFERSON, 
BENJAMIN  HARRISON,  THOMAS  NELSON,  JUN.,  FRANCIS  LIGHTFOOT  LEE,  CARTER 
BRAXTON. 

North  Carolina. — WILLIAM  HOOPER,  JOSEPH  HEWES,  JOHN  PENN. 

South  Carolina. — EDWARD  EUTLEDGE,  THOMAS  HEYWARD,  JUN.,  THOMAS 
LYNCH,  JUN.,  ARTHUR  MIDDLETON. 

Georgia. — BUTTON  GWINNETT,  LYMAN  HALL,  GEORGE  WALTON. 


CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  FNITED  STATES. 

WE,  the  People  of  the  United  States,  in  order  to  form  a  more  perfect  union, 
establish  justice,  insure  domestic  tranquillity,  provide  for  the  common  defence, 
promote  the  general  welfare,  and  secure  the  blessings  of  liberty  to  ourselves 
and  our  posterity,  do  ordain  and  establish  this  CONSTITUTION  for  the  United 
States  of  America. 

ARTICLE  I. 

SECTION  1.  All  legislative  powers  herein  granted  shall  be  vested  in  a  Con 
gress  of  the  United  States,  which  shall  consist  of  a  Senate  and  House  of 
Representatives. 

SECTION  2.  The  House  of  Representatives  shall  be  composed  of  members 
chosen  every  second  year  by  the  people  of  the  several  States,  and  the  electors 
in  each  State  shall  have  the  qualifications  requisite  for  electors  of  the  most 
numerous  branch  of  the  State  Legislature. 

No  person  shall  be  a  representative  who  shall  not  have  attained  to  the  age 
of  twenty-five  years,  and  been  seven  years  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  and 
who  shall  not,  when  elected,  be  an  inhabitant  of  that  State  in  which  he  shall 
be  chosen. 

Representatives  and  direct  taxes  shall  be  apportioned  among  the  several 
States  which  may  be  included  within  this  Union,  according  to  their  respec 
tive  numbers,  which  shall  be  determined  by  adding  to  the  whole  number  of 
free  persons,  including. those  bound  to  service  for  a  term  of  years,  and  ex 
cluding  Indians  not  taxed,  three-fifths  of  all  other  persons.  The  actual 
enumeration  shall  be  made  within  three  years  after  the  first  meeting  of  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States,  and  writhin  every  subsequent  term  of  ten 
years,  in  such  manner  as  they  shall  by  law  direct.  The  number  of  repre 
sentatives  shall  not  exceed  one  for  every  thirty  thousand,  but  each  State 
shall  have  at  least  one  representative :  and  until  such  enumeration  shall  be 
made,  the  State  of  New  Hampshire  shall  be  entitled  to  choose  three ;  Massa 
chusetts,  eight ;  Rhode  Island  and  Providence  Plantations,  one  ;  Connecticut, 
five ;  New  York,  six ;  New  Jersey,  four ;  Pennsylvania,  eight ;  Delaware,  one ; 
Maryland,  six  ;  Virginia,  ten  ;  North  Carolina,  five ;  South  Carolina,  five ;  and 
Georgia,  three. 

When  vacancies  happen  in  the  representation  from  any  State,  the  execu 
tive  authority  thereof  shall  issue  writs  of  election  to  fill  such  vacancies. 

The  House  of  Representatives  shall  choose  their  Speaker  and  other  offi 
cers  ;  and  shall  have  the  sole  power  of  impeachment. 

SECTION  3.  The  Senate  of  the  United  States  shall  be  composed  of  two 
senators  from  each  State,  chosen  by  the  Legislature  thereof,  for  six  years ; 
and  each  senator  shall  have  one  vote. 

Immediately  after  they  shall  be  assembled  in  consequence  of  the  first  elec 
tion,  they  shall  be  divided  as  equally  as  may  be  into  three  classes.  The 
seats  of  the  senators  of  the  first  class  shall  be  vacated  at  the  expiration  of  the 
second  year ;  of  the  second  class,  at  the  expiration  of  the  fourth  year ;  and  of 
the  third  class,  at  the  expiration  of  the  sixth  year,  so  that  one-third  may  be 
chosen  every  second  year ;  and  if  vacancies  happen  by  resignation,  or  other 
wise,  during  the  recess  of  the  Legislature  of  any  State,  the  executive  thereof 
may  make  temporary  appointments  until  the  next  meeting  of  the  Legislature, 
which  shall  then  fill  such  vacancies. 


CONSTITUTION    OF   THE   UNITED    STATES.  313 

No  person  shall  be  a  senator  who  shall  not  have  attained  to  the  age  of 
thirty  years,  and  been  nine  years  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  and  who 
shall  not,  when  elected,  be  an  inhabitant  of  that  State  for  which  he  shall  be 
chosen. 

The  Vice-President  of  the  United  States  shall  be  president  of  the  Senate 
but  shall  have  no  vote,  unless  they  be  equally  divided. 

The  Senate  shall  choose  their  other  officers,  and  also  a  president  pro  tern- 
pore^  in  the  absence  of  the  Vice-President,  or  when  he  shall  exercise  the 
office  of  President  of  the  United  States. 

The  Senate  shall  have  the  sole  power  to  try  all  impeachments.  When 
sitting  for  that  purpose,  they  shall  be  on  oath  or  affirmation.  When  the 
President  of  the  United  States  is  tried,  the  Chief-Justice  shall  preside  ;  and 
no  person  shall  be  convicted  without  the  concurrence  of  two-thirds  of  the 
members  present. 

Judgment  in  cases  of  impeachment  shall  not  extend  further  than  to  re 
moval  from  office,  and  disqualification  to  hold  and  enjoy  any  office  of  honor, 
trust,  or  profit  under  the  United  States ;  but  the  party  convicted  shall  never 
theless  be  liable  and  subject  to  indictment,  trial,  judgment,  and  punishment, 
according  to  law. 

SECTION  4.  The  times,  places,  and  manner  of  holding  elections  for  senators 
and  representatives  shall  be  prescribed  in  each  State  by  the  Legislature 
thereof;  but  the  Congress  may  at  any  time,  by  law,  make  or  alter  such  regu 
lations,  except  as  to  the  places  of  choosing  senators. 

The  Congress  shall  assemble  at  least  once  in  every  year,  and  such  meeting 
shall  be  on  the  first  Monday  in  December,  unless  they  shall  by  law  appoint  a 
different  day. 

SECTION  5.  Each  house  shall  be  the  judge  of  the  elections,  returns,  and 
qualifications  of  its  own  members,  and  a  majority  of  each  shall  constitute  a 
quorum  to  do  business ;  but  a  smaller  number  may  adjourn  from  day  to  day, 
and  may  be  authorized  to  compel  the  attendance  of  absent  members,  in  such 
manner,  and  under  such  penalties,  as  each  house  may  provide. 

Each  house  may  determine  the  rules  of  its  proceedings,  punish  its  mem 
bers  for  disorderly  behavior,  and,  with  the  concurrence  of  two-thirds,  expel  a 
member. 

Each  house  shall  keep  a  journal  of  its  proceedings,  and  from  time  to  time 
publish  the  same,  excepting  such  parts  as  may  in  their  judgment  require 
secrecy,  and  the  yeas  and  nays  of  the  members  of  either  house  on  any 
question  shall,  at  the  desire  of  one-fifth  of  those  present,  be  entered  on  the 
journal. 

Neither  house,  during  the  session  of  Congress,  shall,  without  the  consent 
of  the  other,  adjourn  for  more  than  three  days,  nor  to  any  other  place  than 
that  in  which  the  two  houses  shall  be  sitting. 

SECTION  6.  The  senators  and  representatives  shall  receive  a  compensation 
for  their  services,  to  be  ascertained  by  law,  and  paid  out  of  the  treasury  of 
the  United  States.  They  shall,  in  all  cases  except  treason,  felony,  and 
breach  of  the  peace,  be  privileged  from  arrest  during  their  attendance  at  the 
session  of  their  respective  houses,  and  in  going  to  and  returning  from  the 
same  ;  and  for  any  speech  or  debate  in  either  house,  they  shall  not  be  ques 
tioned  in  any  other  place. 

No  senator  or  representative  shall,  during  the  time  for  which  he  was 
elected,  be  appointed  to  any  civil  office  under  the  authority  of  the  United 

u 


314  CONSTITUTION    OF    THE    UNITED   STATES. 

States,  which  shall  have  been  created,  or  the  emoluments  whereof  shall  have 
been  increased,  during  such  time ;  and  no  person  holding  any  office  under 
the  United  States  shall  be  a  member  of  either  house  during  his  continuance 
in  office. 

SECTION  7.  All  bills  for  raising  revenue  shall  originate  in  the  House  of 
Representatives ;  but  the  Senate  may  propose  or  concur  with  amendments  as 
on  other  bills. 

Every  bill  which  shall  have  passed  the  House  of  Representatives  and  the 
Senate,  shall,  before  it  become  a  law,  be  presented  to  the  President  of  the 
United  States  ;  if  he  approve,  he  shall  sign  it ;  but  if  not,  he  shall  return  it, 
with  his  objections,  to  that  house  in  which  it  shall  have  originated,  who  shall 
enter  the  objections  at  large  on  their  journal,  and  proceed  to  reconsider  it. 
If,  after  such  reconsideration,  two-thirds  of  that  house  shall  agree  to  pass  the 
bill,  it  shall  be  sent,  together  with  the  objections,  to  the  other  house,  by 
which  it  shall  likewise  be  reconsidered,  and  if  approved  by  two-thirds  of  that 
house,  it  shall  become  a  law.  But  in  all  such  cases  the  votes  of  both  houses 
shall  be  determined  by  yeas  and  nays,  and  the  names  of  the  persons  voting 
for  and  against  the  bill  shall  be  entered  on  the  journal  of  each  house  respec 
tively.  If  any  bill  shall  not  be  returned  by  the  President  within  ten  days 
(Sundays  excepted)  after  it  shall  have  been  presented  to  him,  the  same  shall 
be  a  law,  in  like  manner  as  if  he  had  signed  it,  unless  the  Congress  by  their 
adjournment  prevent  its  return,  in  which  case  it  shall  not  be  a  law. 

Every  order,  resolution,  or  vote,  to  which  the  concurrence  of  the  Senate 
and  House  of  Representatives  may  be  necessary  (except  on  a  question  of 
adjournment)  shall  be  presented  to  the  President  of  the  United  States  ;  and 
before  the  same  shall  take  effect,  shall  be  approved  by  him,  or,  being  disap 
proved  by  him,  shall  be  repassed  by  two-thirds  of  the  Senate  and  House  of 
Representatives,  according  to  the  rules  and  limitations  prescribed  in  the  case 
of  a  bill. 

SECTION  8.  The  Congress  shall  have  power- 
To  lay  and  collect  taxes,  duties,  imposts,  and  excises,  to  pay  the  debts  and 
provide  for  the  common  defence  and  general  welfare  of  the  United  States ; 
but  all  duties,  imposts,  and  excises  shall  be  uniform  throughout  the  United 
States ; 

To  borrow  money  on  the  credit  of  the  United  States ; 

To  regulate  commerce  with  foreign  nations,  and  among  the  several  States, 
and  with  the  Indian  tribes  ; 

To  establish  an  uniform  rule  of  naturalization,  and  uniform  laws  on  the 
subject  of  bankruptcies  throughout  the  United  States  ; 

To  coin  money,  regulate  the  value  thereof,  and  of  foreign  coin,  and  fix  the 
standard  of  weights  and  measures  ; 

To  provide  for  the  punishment  of  counterfeiting  the  securities  and  current 
coin  of  the  United  States  ; 

To  establish  post-offices  and  post-roads  ; 

To  promote  the  progress  of  science  and  useful  arts,  by  securing,  for  limited 
times,  to  authors  and  inventors  the  exclusive  right  to  their  respective  writ 
ings  and  discoveries ; 

To  constitute  tribunals  inferior  to  the  Supreme  Court ; 

To  define  and  punish  piracies  and  felonies  committed  on  the  high-seas, 
and  offences  against  the  law  of  nations  ; 


CONSTITUTION    OF   THE   UNITED    STATES.  315 

To  declare  war,  grant  letters  of  marque  and  reprisal,  and  make  rules  con 
cerning  captures  on  land  and  water ; 

To  raise  and  support  armies,  but  no  appropriation  of  money  to  that  use 
shall  be  for  a  longer  term  than  two  years  ; 

To  provide  and  maintain  a  navy  ; 

To  make  rules  for  the  government  and  regulation  of  the  land  and  naval 
forces ; 

To  provide  for  calling  forth  the  militia  to  execute  the  laws  of  the  Union, 
suppress  insurrections,  and  repel  invasions  ; 

To  provide  for  organizing,  arming,  and  disciplining  the  militia,  and  for 
governing  such  part  of  them  as  maybe  employed  in  the  service  of  the  United 
States,  reserving  to  the  States  respectively  the  appointment  of  the  officers, 
and  the  authority  of  training  the  militia  according  to  the  discipline  prescribed 
by  Congress ; 

To  exercise  exclusive  legislation  in  all  cases  whatsoever  over  such  district 
(not  exceeding  ten  miles  square)  as  may  by  cession  of  particular  States,  and 
the  acceptance  of  Congress,  become  the  seat  of  the  government  of  the  United 
States,  and  to  exercise  like  authority  over  all  places  purchased  by  the  con 
sent  of  the  Legislature  of  the  State  in  which  the  same  shall  be,  for  the  erec 
tion  of  forts,  magazines,  arsenals,  dockyards,  and  other  needful  buildings ; 
and 

To  make  all  laws  which  shall  be  necessary  and  proper  for  carrying  into 
execution  the  foregoing  powers,  and  all  other  powers  vested  by  this  Consti 
tution  in  the  government  of  the  United  States,  or  in  any  department  or  officer 
thereof. 

SECTION  9.  The  migration  or  importation  of  such  persons  as  any  of  the 
States  now  existing  shall  think  proper  to  admit,  shall  not  be  prohibited  by 
the  Congress  prior  to  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eight,  but  a 
tax  or  duty  may  be  imposed  on  such  importation,  not  exceeding  ten  dollars 
for  each  person. 

The  privilege  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  shall  not  be  suspended,  unless 
when  in  cases  of  rebellion  or  invasion  the  public  safety  may  require  it. 

No  bill  of  attainder  or  ex-post-facto  law  shall  be  passed. 

No  capitation  or  other  direct  tax  shall  be  laid,  unless  in  proportion  to  the 
census  or  enumeration  hereinbefore  directed  to  be  taken. 

No  tax  or  duty  shall  be  laid  on  articles  exported  from  any  State. 

No  preference  shall  be  given  by  any  regulation  of  commerce  or  revenue  to 
the  ports  of  one  State  over  those  of  another ;  nor  shall  vessels  bound  to,  or 
from,  one  State,  be  obliged  to  enter,  clear,  or  pay  duties  in  another. 

No  money  shall  be  drawn  from  the  treasury  but  in  consequence  of  appro 
priations  made  by  law ;  and  a  regular  statement  and  account  of  the  receipts 
and  expenditures  of  all  public  money  shall  be  published  from  time  to  time. 

No  title  of  nobility  shall  be  granted  by  the  United  States  ;  and  no  person 
holding  any  office  of  profit  or  trust  under  them,  shall,  without  the  consent  of 
the  Congress,  accept  of  any  present,  emolument,  office,  or  title,  of  any  kind 
whatever,  from  any  king,  prince,  or  foreign  state. 

SECTION  10.  No  State  shall  enter  into  any  treaty,  alliance,  or  confederation; 
grant  letters  of  marque  and  reprisal ;  coin  money;  emit  bills  of  credit ;  make 
anything  but  gold  and  silver  coin  a  tender  in  payment  of  debts  ;  pass  any  bill 
of  attainder,  ex-post-facto  law,  or  law  impairing  the  obligation  of  contracts,  or 
grant  any  title  of  nobility. 


316  CONSTITUTION   OF   THE   UNITED    STATES. 

No  State  shall,  without  the  consent  of  the  Congress,  lay  any  impost  or 
duties  on  imports  or  exports,  except  what  may  be  absolutely  necessary  for 
executing  its  inspection  laws ;  and  the  net  produce  of  all  duties  and  imposts, 
laid  by  any  State  on  imports  or  exports,  shall  be  for  the  use  of  the  treasury 
of  the  United  States ;  and  all  such  laws  shall  be  subject  to  the  revision  and 
control  of  the  Congress. 

No  State  shall,  without  the  consent  of  Congress,  lay  any  duty  of  tonnage, 
keep  troops  or  ships-of-war  in  time  of  peace,  enter  into  any  agreement  or 
compact  with  another  State,  or  with  a  foreign  power,  or  engage  in  war,  unless 
actually  invaded,  or  in  such  imminent  danger  as  will  not  admit  of  delay. 

ARTICLE  II. 

SECTION  1.  The  executive  power  shall  be  vested  in  a  President  of  the 
United  States  of  America.  He  shall  hold  his  office  during  the  term  of  four 
years,  and,  together  with  the  Vice-President,  chosen  for  the  same  term,  be 
elected  as  follows : 

Each  State  shall  appoint,  in  such  manner  as  the  Legislature  thereof  may 
direct,  a  number  of  electors,  equal  to  the  whole  number  of  senators  and 
representatives  to  which  the  State  may  be  entitled  in  the  Congress  ;  but  no 
senator  or  representative,  or  person  holding  an  office  of  trust  or  profit  under 
the  United  States,  shall  be  appointed  an  elector. 

[*The  electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective  States,  and  vote  by_  ballot  for 
two  persons,  of  whom  one  at  least  shall  not  be  an  inhabitant  of  the  same 
State  with  themselves  ;  and  they  shall  make  a  list  of  all  the  persons  voted 
for,  and  of  the  number  of  votes  for  each,  which  list  they  shall  sign  and  cer 
tify,  and  transmit  sealed  to  the  seat  of  the  government  of  the  United  States, 
directed  to  the  president  of  the  Senate.  The  president  of  the  Senate  shall, 
in  the  presence  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  open  all  the 
certificates,  and  the  votes  shall  then  be  counted.  The  person  naving  the 
greatest  number  of  votes  shall  be  the  President,  if  such  number  be  a  majority 
of  the  whole  number  of  electors  appointed ;  and  if  there  be  more  than  one 
who  have  such  majority,  and  have  an  equal  number  of  votes,  then  the  House 
of  Representatives  shall  immediately  choose  by  ballot  one  of  them  for  Presi 
dent  ;  and  if  no  person  have  a  majority,  then  from  the  five  highest  on  the 
list  the  said  House  shall,  in  like  manner,  choose  the  President.  But  in 
choosing  the  President,  the  votes  shall  be  taken  by  States,  the  representation 
from  each  State  having  one  vote ;  a  quorum  for  this  purpose  shall  consist  of 
a  member  or  members  from  two-thirds  of  the  States,  and  a  majority  of  all  the 
States  shall  be  necessary  to  a  choice.  In  every  case,  after  the  choice  of  the 
President,  the  person  having  the  greatest  number  of  votes  of  the  electors 
shall  be  the  Vice-President.  But  if  there  should  remain  two  or  more  who 
have  equal  votes,  the  Senate  shall  choose  from  them  by  ballot  the  Vice- 
President.] 

The  Congress  may  determine  the  time  of  choosing  the  electors,  and  the 
day  on  which  they  shall  give  their  votes ;  which  day  shall  be  the  same 
throughout  the  United  States. 

No  person  except  a  natural-born  citizen,  or  a  citizen  of  the  United  States 
at  the  time  of  the  adoption  of  this  Constitution,  shall  be  eligible  to  the  office 
of  President ;  neither  shall  any  person  be  eligible  to  that  office  who  shall 
not  have  attained  to  the  age  of  thirty-five  years,  and  been  fourteen  years  a 
resident  within  the  United  States. 

In  case  of  the  removal  of  the  President  from  office,  or  of  his  death,  resig- 

*  This  clause  has  been  superseded  by  the  Twelfth  Amendment,  on  p.  821. 


CONSTITUTION    OF   THE    UNITED    STATES.  317 

nation,  or  inability  to  discharge  the  powers  and  duties  of  the  said  office,  the 
same  shall  devolve  on  the  Vice-President,  and  the  Congress  may  by  law  pro 
vide  for  the  case  of  removal,  death,  resignation,  or  inability,  both  of  the 
President  and  Vice-President,  declaring  what  officer  shall  then  act  as  Presi 
dent  ;  and  such  officer  shall  act  accordingly  until  the  disability  be  removed, 
or  a  President  shall  be  elected. 

The  President  shall,  at  stated  times,  receive  for  his  services  a  compensa 
tion  which  shall  neither  be  increased  nor  diminished  during  the  period  for 
which  he  shall  have  been  elected,  and  he  shall  not  receive  within  that  period 
any  other  emolument  from  the  United  States,  or  any  of  them. 

Before  he  enter  on  the  execution  of  his  office,  he  shall  take  the  following 
oath  or  affirmation :  "  I  do  solemnly  swear  (or  affirm)  that  I  will  faithfully 
execute  the  office  of  President  of  the  United  States,  and  will,  to  the  best  of 
my  ability,  preserve,  protect,  and  defend  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States." 

SECTION  2.  The  President  shall  be  commander-in-chief  of  the  army  and 
navy  of  the  United  States,  and  of  the  militia  of  the  several  States,  when 
called  into  the  actual  service  of  the  United  States  ;  he  may  require  the  opin 
ion,  in  writing,  of  the  principal  officer  in  each  of  the  executive  departments, 
upon  any  subject  relating  to  the  duties  of  their  respective  offices ;  and  he 
shall  have  power  to  grant  reprieves  and  pardons  for  offences  against  the 
United  States,  except  in  cases  of  impeachment. 

He  shall  have  power,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate,  to 
make  treaties,  provided  two-thirds  of  the  senators  present  concur ;  and  he 
shall  nominate,  and  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate  shall 
appoint,  ambassadors,  other  public  ministers  and  consuls,  judges  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  and  all  other  officers  of  the  United  States  whose  appoint 
ments  are  not  herein  otherwise  provided  for,  and  which  shall  be  established 
by  law :  but  the  Congress  may  by  law  vest  the  appointment  of  such  inferior 
officers  as  they  think  proper,  in  the  President  alone,  in  the  courts  of  law,  or 
in  the  heads  of  departments. 

The  President  shall  have  power  to  fill  up  all  vacancies  that  may  happen 
during  the  recess  of  the  Senate,  by  granting  commissions  wrhich  shall  expire 
at  the  end  of  their  next  session. 

SECTION  3.  He  shall,  from  time  to  time,  give  to  the  Congress  information 
of  the  state  of  the  Union,  and  recommend  to  their  consideration  such  meas 
ures  as  he  shall  judge  necessary  and  expedient ;  he  may,  on  extraordinary 
occasions,  convene  both  Houses,  or  either  of  them,  and  in  case  of  disagree 
ment  between  them  with  respect  to  the  time  of  adjournment,  he  may  adjourn 
them  to  such  time  as  he  shall  think  proper  ;  he  shall  receive  ambassadors  and 
other  public  ministers ;  he  shall  take  care  that  the  laws  be  faithfully  exe 
cuted,  and  shall  commission  all  the  officers  of  the  United  States. 

SECTION  4.  The  President,  Vice-President,  and  all  civil  officers  of  the 
United  States,  shall  be  removed  from  office  on  impeachment  for,  and  convic 
tion  of,  treason,  bribery,  or  other  high  crimes  and  misdemeanors. 

AETICLE  III. 

SECTION  1.  The  judicial  power  of  the  United  States  shall  be  vested  in  one 
Supreme  Court,  and  in  such  inferior  courts  as  the  Congress  may  from  time  to 
time  ordain  and  establish.  The  judges,  both  of  the  Supreme  and  inferior 
courts,  shall  hold  their  offices  during  good  behavior,  and  shall,  at  stated 


318  CONSTITUTION    OF   THE    UNITED    STATES. 

times,  receive  for  their  services  a  compensation  which  shall  not  be  diminished 
during  their  continuance  in  office. 

SECTION  2.  The  judicial  power  shall  extend  to  all  cases,  in  law  and  equity, 
arising  under  this  Constitution,  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  and  treaties 
made,  or  which  shall  be  made,  under  their  authority ;  to  all  cases  affecting 
ambassadors,  other  public  ministers,  and  consuls ;  to  all  cases  of  admiralty 
and  maritime  jurisdiction  ;  to  controversies  to  which  the  United  States  shall 
be  a  party  ;  to  controversies  between  two  or  more  States ;  between  a  State 
and  citizens  of  another  State  ;  between  citizens  of  different  States  ;  between 
citizens  of  the  same  State  claiming  lands  under  grants  of  different  States,  and 
between  a  State,  or  the  citizens  thereof,  and  foreign  States,  citizens,  or 
subjects. 

In  all  cases  affecting  ambassadors,  other  public  ministers,  and  consuls,  and 
those  in  which  a  State  shall  be  party,  the  Supreme  Court  shall  have  original 
jurisdiction.  In  all  the  other  cases  before  mentioned,  the  Supreme  Court 
shall  have  appellate  jurisdiction,  both  as  to  law  and  fact,  with  such  exceptions 
and  under  such  regulations  as  the  Congress  shall  make. 

The  trial  of  all  crimes,  except  in  cases  of  impeachment,  shall  be  by  jury ; 
and  such  trial  shall  be  held  in  the  State  where  the  said  crimes  shall  have 
been  committed ;  but  when  not  committed  within  any  State,  the  trial  shall 
be  at  such  place  or  places  as  the  Congress  may  by  law  have  directed. 

SECTION  3.  Treason  against  the  United  States  shall  consist  only  in  levying 
war  against  them,  or  in  adhering  to  their  enemies,  giving  them  aid  and 
comfort. 

No  person  shall  be  convicted  of  treason  unless  on  the  testimony  of  two 
witnesses  to  the  same  overt  act,  or  on  confession  in  open  court. 

The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  declare  the  punishment  of  treason,  but 
no  attainder  of  treason  shall  work  corruption  of  blood,  or  forfeiture,  except 
during  the  life  of  the  person  attainted. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

SECTION  1.  Full  faith  and  credit  shall  be  given  in  each  State  to  the  public 
acts,  records,  and  judicial  proceedings  of  every  other  State ;  and  the  Congress 
may  by  general  laws  prescribe  the  manner  in  which  such  acts,  records,  and 
proceedings  shall  be  proved,  and  the  effect  thereof. 

SECTION  2.  The  citizens  of  each  State  shall  be  entitled  to  all  privileges  and 
immunities  of  citizens  in  the  several  States. 

A  person  charged  in  any  State  with  treason,  felony,  or  other  crime,  who 
shall  flee  from  justice,  and  be  found  in  another  State,  shall,  on  demand  of 
the  executive  authority  of  the  State  from  which  he  fled,  be  delivered  up  to  be 
removed  to  the  State  having  jurisdiction  of  the  crime. 

No  person  held  to  service  or  labor  in  one  State,  under  the  laws  thereof, 
escaping  into  another,  shall,  in  consequence  of  any  law  or  regulation  therein, 
be  discharged  from  such  service  or  labor,  but  shall  be  delivered  up  on  claim 
of  the  party  to  whom  such  service  or  labor  may  be  due. 

SECTION  3.  New  States  may  be  admitted  by  the  Congress  into  this  Union ; 
but  no  new  State  shall  be  formed  or  erected  witlwn  the  jurisdiction  of  any 
other  State  ;  nor  any  State  be  formed  by  the  junction  of  two  or  more  States, 
or  parts  of  States,  without  the  consent  of  the  Legislatures  of  the  States  con 
cerned,  as  well  as  of  the  Congress. 

The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  dispose  of  and  make  all  needful  rules 


CONSTITUTION   OF   THE   UNITED    STATES.  319 

and  regulations  respecting  the  territory  or  other  property  belonging  to  the 
United  States ;  and  nothing  in  this  Constitution  shall  be  so  construed  as  to 
prejudice  any  claims  of  the  United  States,  or  of  any  particular  State. 

SECTION  4.  The  United  States  shall  guarantee  to  every  State  in  this  Union 
a  republican  form  of  government,  and  shall  protect  each  of  them  against 
invasion,  and  on  application  of  the  Legislature,  or  of  the  executive  (when  the 
Legislature  cannot  be  convened)  against  domestic  violence. 

AKTICLE  V. 

The  Congress,  whenever  two-thirds  of  both  houses  shall  deem  it  neces 
sary,  shall  propose  amendments  to  this  Constitution,  or,  on  the  application  of 
the  Legislatures  of  two-thirds  of  the  several  States,  shall  call  a  convention  for 
proposing  amendments,  which,  in  either  case,  shall  be  valid  to  all  intents 
and  purposes,  as  part  of  this  Constitution,  when  ratified  by  the  Legislatures 
of  three-fourths  of  the  several  States,  or  by  conventions  in  three-fourths 
thereof,  as  the  one  or  the  other  mode  of  ratification  may  be  proposed  by  the 
Congress ;  provided  that  no  amendment  which  may  be  made  prior  to  the 
year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eight  shall  in  any  manner  aifect  the 
first  and  fourth  clauses  in  the  ninth  section  of  the  first  article  ;  and  that  no 
State,  without  its  consent,  shall  be  deprived  of  its  equal  suffrage  in  the  Senate. 

ARTICLE  VI. 

All  debts  contracted,  and  engagements  entered  into,  before  the  adoption 
of  this  Constitution,  shall  be  as  valid  against  the  United  States  under  this 
Constitution,  as  under  the  confederation. 

This  Constitution,  and  the  laws  of  the  United  States  which  shall  be  made 
in  pursuance  thereof;  and  all  treaties  made,  or  which  shall  be  made,  under 
the  authority  of  the  United  States,  shall  be  the  supreme  law  of  the  land;  and 
the  judges  in  every  State  shall  be  bound  thereby,  anything  in  the  Constitution 
or  laws  of  any  State  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 

The  senators  and  representatives  before  mentioned,  and  the  members  of 
the  several  State  Legislatures,  and  all  executive  and  judicial  officers,  both  of 
the  United  States  and  of  the  several  States,  shall  be  bound  by  oath  or  affirma 
tion  to  support  thia  Constitution  ;  but  no  religious  test  shall  ever  be  required 
as  a  qualification  to  any  office  or  public  trust  under  the  United  States. 

ARTICLE   VII. 

The  ratification  of  the  conventions  of  nine  States  shall  be  sufficient  for  the 
establishment  of  this  Constitution  between  the  States  so  ratifying  the  same. 

Done  in  convention,  by  the  unanimous  consent  of  the  States  present, 
the  seventeenth  day  of  September,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thou 
sand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-seven,  and  of  the  independence  of 
the  United  States  of  America  the  twelfth. 
In  witness  whereof,  we  have  hereunto  subscribed  our  names. 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON, 
President,  and  Deputy  from  Virginia,. 

(Signed  by  Deputies  from  all  the  States  except  Rhode  Island.} 


320 


CONSTITUTION    OF   THE    UNITED    STATES. 


The  Constitution  was  adopted  by 
and  was  ratified  by  conventions  of  the 
viz. : — 


the  Convention,  September  17,  1787, 
several  States  at  the  following  dates, 


Delaware, 
Pennsylvania, 
New  Jersey, 
Georgia, 
Connecticut, 
Massachusetts, 
Maryland, 

December  7,    1787. 
December  12,  1787. 
December  18,  1787. 
January  2,       1788. 
January  9,       1788. 
February  6,      1788. 
April  28,          1788. 

South  Carolina, 
New  Hampshire, 
Virginia, 
New  York, 
North  Carolina, 
Khode  Island, 

May  23,  1788. 
June  21,  1788. 
June  26,  1788. 
July  26,  1788. 
Nov.  21,  1789. 
May  29,  1790. 

ARTICLES 

IN  ADDITION  TO,  AND   AMENDMENT    OP, 

THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 

Proposed  by  Congress,  and  ratified  by  the  Legislatures  of 
the  several  States,  pursuant  to  the  Fifth  Article  of  the 
foregoing  Constitution. 

AETICLE  I. 

Congress  shall  make  no  law  respecting  an  establishment  of  religion,  or 
prohibiting  the  free  exercise  thereof;  or  abridging  the  freedom  of  speech,  or 
of  the  press,  or  of  the  right  of  the  people  peaceably  to  assemble,  and  to  peti 
tion  the  government  for  a  redress  of  grievances. 

AETICLE  II. 

A  well-regulated  militia  being  necessary  to  the  security  of  a  free  State, 
the  right  of  the  people  to  keep  and  bear  arms  shall  not  be  infringed. 

AETICLE  III. 

No  soldier  shall,  in  time  of  peace,  be  quartered  in  any  house,  without  the 
consent  of  the  owner,  nor  in  time  of  war,  but  in  a  manner  to  be  prescribed 
by  law. 

AETICLE   IV. 

The  right  of  the  people  to  be  secure  in  their  persons,  houses,  papers,  and 
effects,  against  unreasonable  searches  and  seizures,  shall  not  be  violated,  and 
no  warrants  shall  issue,  but  upon  probable  cause,  supported  by  oath  or 
affirmation,  and  particularly  describing  the  place  to  be  searched,  and  the 
persons  or  things  to  be  seized. 

AETICLE  V. 

No  person  shall  be  held  to  answer  for  a  capital  or  otherwise  infamous 
crime,  unless  on  a  presentment  or  indictment  of  a  grand-jury,  except  in 


CONSTITUTION    OF   THE    UNITED    STATES.  321 

cases  arising  in  the  land  or  naval  forces,  or  in  the  militia,  when  in  actual 
service  in  time  of  war  or  public  danger ;  nor  shall  any  person  be  subject  for 
the  same  offence  to  be  twice  put  in  jeopardy  of  life  or  limb ;  nor  shall  be 
compelled  in  any  criminal  case  to  be  a  witness  against  himself,  nor  be 
deprived  of  life,  liberty,  or  property,  without  due  process  of  law ;  nor  shall 
private  property  be  taken  for  public  use  without  just  compensation. 

AETICLE  VI. 

In  all  criminal  prosecutions,  the  accused  shall  enjoy  the  right  to  a  speedy 
and  public  trial,  by  an  impartial  jury  of  the  State  and  district  wherein  the 
crime  shall  have  been  committed,  which  district  shall  have  been  previously 
ascertained  by  law,  and  to  be  informed  of  the  nature  and  cause  of  the  accusa 
tion  ;  to  be  confronted  with  the  witnesses  against  him ;  to  have  compulsory 
process  for  obtaining  witnesses  in  his  favor,  and  to  have  the  assistance  of 
counsel  for  his  defence. 

AETICLE   VII. 

In  suits  at  common  law,  where  the  value  in  controversy  shall  exceed 
twenty  dollars,  the  right  of  trial  by  jury  shall  be  preserved,  and  no  fact  tried 
by  a  jury  shall  be  otherwise  re-examined  in  any  Court  of  the  United  States 
than  according  to  the  rules  of  the  common  law. 

ARTICLE  VIII. 

Excessive  bail  shall  not  be  required,  nor  excessive  fines  imposed,  nor 
cruel  and  unusual  punishments  inflicted. 

AETICLE  IX. 

The  enumeration  in  the  Constitution,  of  certain  rights,  shall  not  be  con 
strued  to  deny  or  disparage  others  retained  by  the  people. 

AETICLE   X. 

The  powers  not  delegated  to  the  United  States  by  the  Constitution,  nor 
prohibited  by  it  to  the  States,  are  reserved  to  the  States  respectively,  or  to 
the  people. 

ARTICLE   XI. 

The  judicial  power  of  the  United  States  shall  not  be  construed  to  extend 
to  any  suit  in  law  or  equity  commenced  or  prosecuted  against  one  of  the 
United  States  by  citizens  of  another  State,  or  by  citizens  or  subjects  of  any 
foreign  State. 

AETICLE  XII. 

The  electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective  States,  and  vote  by  ballot  for 
President  and  Vice-President,  one  of  whom,  at  least,  shall  not  be  an  inhabi 
tant  of  the  same  State  with  themselves  ;  they  shall  name  in  their  ballots  the 
person  voted  for  as  President,  and  in  distinct  ballots  the  person  voted  for  as 
Vice-President,  and  they  shall  make  distinct  lists  of  all  persons  voted  for  as 
President,  and  of  all  persons  voted  for  as  Vice-President,  and  of  the  number 
of  votes  for  each,  which  lists  they  shall  sign  and  certify,  and  transmit  sealed 
to  the  seat  of  the  government  of  the  United  States,  directed  to  the  president 
of  the  Senate  ;— The  president  of  the  Senate  shall,  in  presence  of  the  Senate 
and  House  of  Representatives,  open  all  the  certificates,  and  the  votes  shall 


322  CONSTITUTION   OF   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

then  be  counted  ; — The  person  having  the  greatest  number  of  votes  for  Presi 
dent,  shall  be  the  President,  if  such  number  be  a  majority  of  the  whole  num 
ber  of  electors  appointed ;  and  if  no  person  have  such  majority,  then  from 
the  persons  having  the  highest  numbers  not  exceeding  three  on  the  list  of 
those  voted  for  as  President,  the  House  of  Representatives  shall  choose  im 
mediately,  by  ballot,  the  President.  But  in  choosing  the  President,  the 
votes  shall  be  taken  by  States,  the  representation  from  each  State  having  one 
vote  ;  a  quorum  for  this  purpose  shall  consist  of  a  member  or  members  from 
two-thirds  of  the  States,  and  a  majority  of  all  the  States  shall  be  necessary  to 
a  choice.  And  if  the  House  of  Representatives  shall  not  choose  a  President, 
whenever  the  right  of  choice  shall  devolve  upon  them,  before  the  fourth  day 
of  March  next  following,  then  the  Vice-President  shall  act  as  President,  as  in 
the  case  of  the  death  or  other  constitutional  disability  of  the  President.  The 
person  having  the  greatest  number  of  votes  as  Vice-President,  shall  be  the 
Vice-President,  if  such  number  be  a  majority  of  the  whole  number  of  electors 
appointed;  and  if  no  person  have  a  majority,  then  from  the  two  highest 
numbers  on  the  list,  the  Senate  shall  choose  the  Vice-President ;  a  quorum 
for  the  purpose  shall  consist  of  two-thirds  of  the  whole  number  of  Senators, 
and  a  majority  of  the  whole  number  shall  be  necessary  to  a  choice.  But  no 
person  constitutionally  ineligible  to  the  office  of  President  shall  be  eligible  to 
that  of  Vice-President  of  the  United  States. 

ARTICLE   XIII. 

SECTION  1.  Neither  slavery  nor  involuntary  servitude,  except  as  a  punish 
ment  for  crime  whereof  the  party  shall  have  been  duly  convicted,  shall  exist 
within  the  United  States,  or  any  place  subject  to  their  jurisdiction. 

SECTION  2.  Congress  shall  have  power  to  enforce  this  Article  by  appropri 
ate  legislation. 

ARTICLE  XIV. 

SECTION  1.  All  persons  born  or  naturalized  in  the  United  States  and  sub  • 
ject  to  the  jurisdiction  thereof,  are  citizens  of  the  United  States  and  of  the 
State  wherein  they  reside.  No  State  shall  make  or  enforce  any  law  which 
shall  abridge  the  privileges  or  immunities  of  citizens  of  the  United  States ; 
nor  shall  any  State  deprive  any  person  of  life,  liberty,  or  property,  without 
due  process  of  law  ;  nor  deny  to  any  person  within  its  jurisdiction  the  equal 
protection  of  the  laws. 

SECTION  2.  Representatives  shall  be  appointed  among  the  several  States 
according  to  their  respective  numbers,  counting  the  whole  number  of  persons 
in  each  State,  excluding  Indians  not  taxed ;  but  when  the  right  to  vote  at  any 
election  for  the  choice  of  electors  for  President  and  Vice-President  of  the 
United  States,  representatives  in  Congress,  the  executive  and  judicial  offi 
cers  of  a  State,  or  the  members  of  the  Legislature  thereof,  is  denied  to  any 
of  the  male  inhabitants  of  such  State  (being  twenty-one  years  of  age  and 
citizens  of  the  United  States),  or  in  anyway  abridged,  except  for  participation 
in  rebellion  or  other  crime,  the  basis  of  representation  therein  shall  be  re 
duced  in  the  proportion  which  the  number  of  such  male  citizens  shall  bear  to 
the  whole  number  of  male  citizens  twenty -one  years  of  age  in  said  State. 

SECTION  3.  No  person  shall  be  a  Senator  or  Representative  in  Congress,  or 
Elector,  or  President,  or  Vice-President,  or  hold  any  office,  civil  or  military, 
under  the  United  States,  or  under  any  State,  who,  having  previously  taken 


CONSTITUTION   OF   THE   UNITED   STATES.  323 

an  oath  as  a  member  of  Congress,  or  as  an  officer  of  the  United  States,  or  as  a 
member  of  any  State  Legislature,  or  as  an  executive  or  judicial  officer  of  any 
State,  to  support  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  shall  have  engaged  in 
insurrection  or  rebellion  against  the  same,  or  given  aid  or  comfort  to  the 
enemies  thereof;  but  Congress  may,  by  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  each  House? 
remove  such  disability. 

SECTION  4.  The  validity  of  the  public  debt  of  the  United  States,  authorized 
by  law,  including  debts  incurred  for  payment  of  pensions  and  bounties,  for 
services  in  suppressing  insurrection  or  rebellion,  shall  not  be  questioned ;  but 
neither  the  United  States  nor  any  State  shall  assume  or  pay  any  debt  or  obli 
gation  incurred  in  aid  of  insurrection  or  rebellion  against  the  United  States, 
or  any  claim  for  the  loss  or  emancipation  of  any  slave.  But  all  such  debts, 
obligations,  and  claims,  shall  be  held  illegal  and  void. 

SECTION  5.  The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  enforce,  by  appropriate 
legislation,  the  provisions  of  this  Article. 

ARTICLE  XV. 

SECTION  1.  The  right  of  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  to  vote  shall  not 
be  denied  or  abridged  by  the  United  States,  or  by  any  State,  on  account  of 
race,  color,  or  previous  condition  of  servitude. 

SECTION  2.  The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  enforce  this  Article  by 
appropriate  legislation. 


GREAT  SEAL  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Adopted  by  the  Continental  Congress,  June  20,  1782. 
Readopted  by  the  Federal  Congress,  Sept.  15,  1789. 


INDEX. 


Acadia,  55;  ceded  to  England,  102. 

Adams,  John,  199 ;  administration  of,  207. 

Adams,  John  Quincy,  231 ;  his  administra 
tion,  as  president,  236. 

Adams,  Samuel,  127, 131. 

Alabama,  sunk  by  the  Kearsarge,  285. 

Alabama  Claims,  296. 

Alaska,  purchase  of,  295. 

Algiers,  war  with,  230. 

Allen,  Ethan,  141. 

Allouez,  81. 

America,  discovery  of,  12 ;  its  name,  14. 

American  Party,  261. 

Amerigo  Vespucci,  15. 

Andre,  Major,  182, 183. 

Andros,  Sir  Edmund,  in  New  York,  92 ;  in 
New  England,  94;  In  Virginia,  99. 

Antietam,  battle  of,  277. 

Anti-renters,  in  New  York,  243. 

Appomattox  C.  H.,  surrender  at,  289. 

Arkansas  Post,  capture  of,  280. 

Arnold,  Benedict,  142,  145,  156,  163,  164; 
his  treason,  182 ;  his  subsequent  career, 
183. 

Atlanta,  capture  of,  283. 

Aztecs,  the,  32. 

Bacon's  Kebellion,  86. 

Balboa,  27,  28. 

Ball's  Bluff,  battle  of,  263. 

Baltimore,  Lord,  72.    City  of,  laid  out,  99  ; 

British  attack  on,  227. 
Bank,  of   North   America,    177;    United 

States,  201,  230,  240,  243. 
Banks,  Gen.,  2SO,  283. 
Beauregard,  Gen.,  265. 
Belmont,  battle  of,  269. 
Bennington,  battle  of,  162. 
Bentonsville,  battle  of,  287. 
Berkeley,  Sir  William,  79. 


Biddle,  Commodore,  174. 

Big  Bethel,  battle  of,  267. 

Big  Black  Eiver  Bridge,  battle  of,  280. 

Black  Hawk's  War,  288. 

Bladensburg,  battle  of,  227, 

Bolivar,  Simon,  234. 

Boston,  founding  of,  61 ;  destruction  of  tea 

in,  131 ;  Port  Bill,  132 ;  evacuation  of,  by 

the  British,  149 ;  great  fire  of,  296. 
Boston  Massacre,  130. 
Braddock's  Campaign,  114. 
Brandy  wine,  battle  of,  165. 
Brazil,  discovery  of,  27. 
Brown,  Gen.  Jacob,  223. 
Brown,  John,  raid  of,  262. 
Buchanan,  James,  246;  administration  of, 

262. 

Btiena  Vista,  battle  of,  249. 
Bull  Kun,  first  battle  of,  267;  second  battle 

of,  276. 

Bunker  Hill,  battle  of,  144. 
Burgoyne,  campaign  of,  160-165. 
Burnside,  Gen.,  273,  277. 
Burr,  Aaron,  207,  208. 

Cabots,  26. 

Calhoun,  John  C.,  223,  235,  236,  237,  258. 

California,  discovery  of  gold  in,  255. 

Calvert,  Cecil,  72;  Leonard,  72. 

Camden,  battle  of,  180. 

Canada,  Montgomery's  invasion  of,  145 ; 
Wilkinson's  invasions  of,  221,  223 ;  in 
surrection  in,  241 ;  Dominion  of,  303. 

Cape  Breton,  conquest  of,  120. 

Carnifex  Ferry,  battle  of,  267. 

Carolina,  settlement  of,  80. 

Carrick's  Ford,  battle  of,  267. 

Cartier,  discoveries  of,  36. 

Cedar  Creek,  battle  of,  285. 

Cedar  Mountain,  battle  of,  276. 


326 


INDEX. 


Centennial  Exhibition,  the,  300. 

Central  America,  colonization  of,  35;  re 
publics  of,  235. 

Cerro  Gordo,  battle  of,  252. 

Champion's  Hill,  battle  of,  280. 

Champlain,  55. 

Chancellorsville,  battle  of,  279. 

Chantilly,  battle  of,  276. 

Chapultepec,  battle  of,  253. 

Charles  City  Cross  Koads,  battle  of,  276. 

Charleston,  founding  of,  80 ;  attack  of  the 
British  on,  in  1776,  149 ;  taken  by  the 
British,  177;  recovered  by  the  Amer 
icans,  193 ;  in  the  Civil  War,  265,  281 ; 
surrender  of,  2S8. 

Chattanooga,  282,  283. 

Cherokees,  war  with  the,  124;  their  re 
moval  to  Indian  Territory,  239. 

Cherry  Yalley,  massacre  of,  171. 

Chicago,  rapid  growth  of,  296;  great  fire 
of,  296. 

Chickamauga,  battle  of,  282. 

Chippewa,  battle  of,  224. 

Chryslers  Field,  battle  of,  221. 

Churubusco,  battle  of,  253. 

Civil  War,  the,  264-2S9 ;  results  of,  293. 

Clay,  Henry,  222, 234, 236, 237, 246, 257, 258. 

Clinton,  De  Witt,  232,  236. 

Clinton,  Gen.,  165, 169, 177, 193. 

Clinton,  George,  208,  211. 

Coal,  discovery  of,  205. 

Cold  Harbor,  battle  of,  284. 

Columbus,  voyages  of,  11, 12, 13 ;  adminis 
tration  of,  13. 

Concord,  battle  of,  139. 

Confederacy,  formation  of  the,  263. 

Confederation,  Articles  of,  196. 

Congress,  first  Continental,  133 ;  second 
Continental,  142 ;  organization  of  the 
Federal,  200. 

Connecticut,  settlement  of,  67 ;  its  charter 
demanded  by  Andros,  94. 

Constitution  of  the  United  States,  197,  812. 

Continental  Money,  176. 

Contreras,  battle  of,  252. 

Cornwallis,  Lord,  152,  155,  158,  165;  in 
Carolina,  178,  ISO,  187 ;  in  Virginia,  189; 
surrender  of,  191. 

Cotton-gin,  invention  of  the,  205. 

Cowpens,  battle  of  the,  185. 

Credit  Mobilier,  297. 


Creek  War,  221. 
Crown  Point,  115, 121, 142, 156. 
Cuba,  discovery  of,  12 ;  colonized,  14. 
Custer,  Gen.,  last  battle  of,  301. 

Da  Gama,  Vasco,  26. 

Dallas,  battle  of,  283. 

Davis,  Jefferson,  president  of  the  Confed 
eracy,  263;  capture  of,  293. 

Davis,  John,  voyages  of,  41. 

Dearborn,  Gen.,  213,  221. 

Deatonsville,  battle  of,  289. 

Decatur,  Lieutenant,  208,  230. 

Declaration  of  Independence,  the  Mecklen 
burg,  140 ;  by  the  Continental  Congress, 
151 ;  309. 

Deerfield,  massacre  at,  101. 

De  Gourgues,  37. 

De  Kalb,  arrival  of,  160 ;  fall  of,  180. 

Delaware,  origin  of,  91. 

Delaware,  Lord,  in  Virginia,  45. 

De  Leon,  Ponce,  29. 

De  Narvaez,  29. 

De  Soto,  expedition  of,  30. 

D'Estaing,  at  Newport,  169 ;  at  Savannah, 
173. 

Doniphan,  Colonel,  250. 

Dorr's  Rebellion,  243. 

Draft,  the,  in  the  Civil  War,  280. 

Drake,  Sir  Francis,  39,  40. 

"Dred  Scott"  decision,  262. 

Dustin,  Hannah,  97. 

Dutch,  maritime  enterprise  of  the,  51 ;  set 
tlements,  53. 

Early,  Gen.,  his  invasion  of  Maryland,  284. 

Eliot,  John,  76. 

Emancipation  Proclamation,  278. 

Esquimaux,  the,  24. 

Eutaw  Springs,  battle  of,  189. 

Everett,  Edward,  259. 

Fair  Oaks,  battle  of,  275. 

Farragut,  Admiral,  274,  285. 

Fillmorc,  Millard,  255 ;  his  administration, 

253. 

Fisher's  Hill,  battle  of,  285. 
Fishing  Creek,  battle  of,  181. 
Fitch,  John,  209. 

Flag,  adoption  of  the  national,  159. 
Florida,  explorations  of,  29 ;  ceded  by  Spain 


INDEX. 


327 


to  England,  124 ;  ceded  back  by  Eng 
land,  193  ;  purchase  of,  233. 

Fort  Clinton,  165. 

Fort  Dearborn,  abandoned,  214. 

Fort  Donelson,  capture  of,  271. 

Fort  Du  Quesne,  taken  by  Washington,  120. 

Fort  Erie,  224,  225. 

Fort  Fisher,  capture  of,  287. 

Fort  George,  218,  221. 

Fort  Henry,  capture  of,  271. 

Fort  McAllister,  capture  of,  286. 

Fort  Meigs,  siege  of,  217. 

Fort  Mercer,  taken  by  the  British,  166. 

Fort  Mifflin,  taken  by  the  British,  166. 

Fort  Montgomery,  taken  by  Clinton,  165. 

Fort  Pillow,  272,  283. 

Fort  Pulaski,  capture  of,  273. 

Fort  Schuyler,  defence  of,  162. 

Fort  Stephenson,  defence  of,  218. 

Fort  Sumter,  fall  of,  265. 

Fort  Washington,  capture  of,  154. 

Fort  William  Henry,  capture  of,  118. 

France,  aid  received  from,  160 ;  independ 
ence  of  the  States  recognized  by,  168. 

Frauklin,  Benjamin,  113,  197. 

Franklin,  Tenn.,  battle  of,  286. 

Fredericksburg  (Va.),  battle  of,  277. 

Fremont,  John  C.,  251,  261. 

French  and  Indian  War,  111-124. 

Frobisher,  voyages  of,  40. 

Frontenac,  governor  of  New  France,  97. 

Fulton,  Kobert,  209. 

Gadsden  purchase,  the,  259. 

Gage,  Gen.,  governor  of  Massachusetts,  132. 

Gaines's  Mill,  battle  of,  275. 

Gansevoort,  Colonel,  162. 

Gates,  Gen.,  at  Stillwater,  163;  at  Camden, 
ISO. 

Genet,  minister  of  France,  204. 

Georgia,  founding  of,  102. 

Germantown,  battle  of,  166. 

Gettysburg,  battle  of,  279. 

Gilbert,  Sir  Humphrey,  40. 

Gorges,  65. 

Grant,  Gen.,  271,  279,  2S8;  his  administra 
tion,  as  president,  295-302. 

Greeley,  Horace,  296. 

Greene,  Gen.,  152 ;  supersedes  Gates,  180, 
185 ;  his  famous  retreat,  187. 

Guadalupe  Hidalgo,  Treaty  of,  253. 


Guatemozin,  33. 

Guilford  Court-House,  battle  of,  187. 

Hadley,  surprise  of,  84. 

Hamilton,  Alexander,  154,  201,  208. 

Hanging  Eock,  battle  of,  180. 

Harmer,  Gen.,  defeat  of,  202. 

Harrison,  Gen.,  211 ;  his  campaign  in  Ohio, 
216;  at  the  Thames,  220;  his  adminis 
tration,  242. 

Hartford  Convention,  230. 

Hawkins,  Sir  John,  voyages  of,  39. 

Hayes,  Kutherford  B.,  election  of,  302. 

Hennepin,  82. 

Henry,  Patrick,  128, 134 ;  death  of,  207. 

Herkimer,  Gen.,  162. 

Hessians,  150, 158. 

Hispaniola,  discovery  of,  12. 

Hobkirk's  Hill,  battle  of,  188. 

Hooker,  Gen.,  278. 

Howe,  Gen.,  supersedes  Gage,  148 ;  offers 
peace,  152;  takes  Philadelphia,  166; 
gives  way  to  Gen.  Clinton,  168. 

Hudson,  Henry,  discoveries  of,  52. 

Hull,  Gen.,  his  surrender,  213. 

Hutchinson,  Ann,  63. 

Indians,  the,  origin  of,  14 ;  description  of, 

19-24. 

Island  No.  10,  capture  of,  272. 
luka,  battle  of,  278. 

Jackson,  Andrew,  206,  228,  233;  his  ad 
ministration,  as  president,  236-240. 

Jackson  (Miss.),  battle  of,  280. 

Jackson,  "  Stonewall,"  275,  279. 

Jamaica,  discovery  of,  13;  taken  by  the 
English,  100. 

Jamestown,  founding  of,  43. 

Japan,  opened  by  Commodore  Perry,  260. 

Jay,  John,  204. 

Jefferson,  Thomas,  203 ;  administration  of, 
208-210. 

Johnson,  Andrew,  administration  of,  292- 
295 ;  impeachment  of,  294. 

Joliet,  82. 

Jones,  Paul,  159, 174. 

Kansas,  260 ;  troubles  in,  261. 
Kenesaw  Mountain,  battle  of,  283. 
Kentucky,  first  settled,  135 ;  admitted,  206. 


328 


INDEX. 


Kidd,  Captain,  100. 
King  George's  War,  107. 
King  Philip's  War,  83-85. 
King's  Mountain,  battle  of,  181. 
King  William's  War,  96. 
Knoxville,  siege  of,  282. 
Kosciusko,  160, 163,  172. 

Lafayette,  arrival  of,  160;  at  Monmouth, 
169;  in  Virginia,  190;  visit  of,  235. 

Lake  Erie,  battle  of,  219. 

Lake  George,  Dieskau's  defeat  at,  116. 

La  Salle,  82. 

Lee,  Gen.  Charles,  149, 154. 

Lee,  Gen.  Eobert  E.,  275;  his  first  inva 
sion  of  Maryland,  276;  his  second  in 
vasion,  279 ;  surrender  of,  289. 

Lexington  (Mass.),  battle  of,  139. 

Lexington  (Mo.),  battle  of,  269. 

Lincoln,  Gen.,  173, 177. 

Lincoln,  President,  administration  of,  264  ; 
assassination  of,  289. 

Long  Island,  battle  of,  152. 

Lookout  Mountain,  battle  of,  282. 

Loudoun,  Lord,  117,  118. 

Louisturg,  capture  of,  107, 120. 

Louisiana,  explored  and  named,  82;  Mis 
sissippi  Scheme,  105 ;  ceded  by  France 
to  Spain,  124 ;  purchase  of,  208 ;  political 
troubles  in,  297. 

Lundy's  Lane,  battle  of,  224. 

Madison,  James,  his  administration,  211. 

Magellan,  voyage  of,  28. 

Magnetic  telegraph,  the,  246. 

Maine,  settlement  of,  65;  incorporated  in 
Massachusetts  Bay  Colony,  95. 

Malvern  Hill,  battle  of,  276. 

Marion,  178, 181. 

Marquette,  82. 

Maryland,  settlement  of,  72 ;  a  royal  prov 
ince,  99 ;  its  capital  changed,  99. 

Mason  and  Dixon's  Line,  91. 

Mason  and  Slidell,  seizure  of,  270. 

Massachusetts  Bay  Colony,  61. 

Massasoit,  58. 

McClellan,  Gen.,  267;  succeeds  Gen.  Scott, 
268 ;  his  Peninsular  Campaign,  274. 

McCrea,  Jane,  tragical  fate  of,  161. 

Meade,  Gen.,  279,  283. 

MeehanicsvilJe,  battle  of,  275. 


Melendez,  37. 

Mexican  War,  248-256. 

Mexico,  conquest  of,  31 ;  condition  of,  tinder 
Spanish  viceroys,  100 ;  insurrections  in, 
245 ;  its  independence  established,  245 ; 
a  republic,  245;  war  with  the  United 
States,  246-253 ;  capture  of  the  capital 
by  Gen.  Scott,  253 ;  Maximilian  in,  302. 

Mill  Springs,  battle  of,  270. 

Minisink,  burned  by  Brant,  171. 

Minuit,  administration  of,  53. 

Missionary  Kidge,  battle  of,  282. 

Mississippi,  first  settled,  104. 

Missouri  Compromise,  234. 

Modoc  War,  297. 

Molino  del  Key,  battle  of,  253. 

Monitor  and  Virginia,  encounter  of,  273. 

Monmouth,  battle  of,  168. 

Monocacy,  battle  of  the,  284. 

Monroe,  James,  his  administration,  231. 

Montcalm,  117. 

Monterey,  capture  of,  249. 

Montezuma,  33. 

Montgomery,  Gen.  Richard,  145. 

Montreal,  founded,  81. 

Morgan,  Gen.,  145,  146,  163,  164,  185;  re 
treat  of,  through  Carolina,  186,  187. 

Morgan's  raid,  281. 

Mormons,  the,  244. 

Morse,  Samuel  F.  B.,  246,  300. 

Mound-builders,  the,  16;  relics  of,  17. 

Munfordsville,  battle  of,  278. 

Murfrcesboro,  battle  of,  278. 

Nashville,  battle  near,  286. 

New  Brunswick,  conquest  of,  117. 

New  England,  life  in,  70 ;  United  Colonies 
of,  75 ;  witchcraft  in,  98. 

New  France,  36,  55,  81. 

New  Hampshire,  settlement  of,  65. 

New  Haven,  colony  of,  69. 

New  Netherland,  53;  under  Kieft,  77; 
conquered  by  the  English,  77. 

New  Orleans,  founded,  105  ;  battle  of,  229 ; 
capture  of,  274. 

Newport,  founded,  64 ;  taken  by  the  Brit 
ish,  156;  American  attack  on,  169. 

New  Sweden,  73. 

New  York,  why  so  called,  77  ;  early  times 
in,  79 ;  under  Andros,  92 ;  under  Don- 
gan,  93;  under  Leisler,  93;  under 


INDEX. 


329 


Fletcher,  93 ;  abandoned  to  the  British, 

153 ;  evacuation  of,  195. 
Ninety-Six,  siege  of,  188. 
Norsemen,  discoveries  of  the,  8. 
Nullification  in  South  Carolina,  237. 

Oglethorpe,  James  Edward,  102. 
Ohio,  first  settlement  of,  202. 
Omnibus  Bill,  257. 
Oriskany,  battle  of,  162. 
Osceola,  289. 
Otis,  James,  127. 

Pacific,  discovery  of  the,  27. 

Pacific  Kailroad,  295. 

Pakenham,  Gen.,  229. 

Palo  Alto,  battle  of,  248. 

Patroon  system,  54. 

Pea  Ridge,  battle  of,  272. 

Penn,  William,  89. 

Pennsylvania,  founding  of,  89. 

Pequod  War,  68,  69. 

Perry,  Commodore,  on  Lake  Erie,  219. 

Perryville,  battle  of,  278. 

Peru,  conquest  of,  85. 

Petersburg,  siege  of,  284,  286 ;  capture  of, 
288. 

Philadelphia,  founded,  90 ;  taken  by  Howe, 
166;  evacuated  by  the  British,  168. 

Philippi,  battle  of,  267. 

Phipps,  Sir  William,  95,  97. 

Pierce,  President,  his  administration,  259. 

Pike,  Gen.,  his  capture  of  York,  217. 

Pizarro,  34. 

Plattsburg,  battle  of,  226. 

Pleasant  Hill,  battle  of,  2S3. 

Plymouth,  Council  of,  56 ;  landing  at,  58 ; 
colony  of,  58-60 ;  incorporated  in  Mas 
sachusetts  Bay  Colony,  95. 

Pocahontas,  44,  46. 

Polk,  James  K.,  his  administration,  246. 

Pontiac's  War,  124. 

Pope,  Gen.,  272,  276. 

"  Popular  sovereignty  "  discussion,  260. 

Powhatan,  43,  44. 

Princeton,  battle  of,  158. 

Proctor,  Gen.,  216,  217,  220. 

Providence,  founding  of,  63. 

Pulaski,  arrival  of,  160 ;  fall  of,  173. 

Puritans,  57,  69. 

Putnam,  Gen.,  140, 152,  154. 


Quakers,  in  New  England,  76 ;  in  New  Jer 
sey,  88. 

Quebec,  founded,  55 ;  taken  by  Wolfe,  122. 
Queen  Anne's  War,  101. 
Queenstown,  battle  of,  215. 

Kailroads,  early  days  of,  in  the  U.  S.,  241. 

Ealeigh,  Sir  Walter,  41. 

Eawdon,  Lord,  188. 

Eaymond,  battle  of,  280. 

Keconstruction,  293. 

Eed  Eiver  Expedition,  283. 

Eegulators,  the,  131. 

Eesaca,  battle  of,  283. 

Eesaca  de  la  Palma,  battle  of,  248. 

Eevolutionary  War,  139-195. 

Ehode  Island,  settlement  of,  63. 

Eibault,  37. 

Eichmond  (Ky.),  battle  of,  278. 

Eichmond,  Va.,  192,  266  ;  capture  of,  288. 

Eich  Mountain,  battle  of.  267. 

Eoanoke  Island,   settlements  on,  41,  42 ; 

capture  of,  in  the  Civil  War,  273. 
Eochambeau,  190. 
Eomney,  battle  of,  267. 
Eosecrans,  Gen.,  267,  278,  282. 

Sabine  Cross  Eoads,  battle  of,  2S3. 

San  Jacinto,  battle  of,  245. 

San  Salvador,  discovery  of,  12. 

Santa  Anna,  245,  250,  252. 

Saratoga,  surrender  of,  165. 

Savage's  Station,  battle  of,  276. 

Savannah,  founded,  103;  captured  by  the 
British,  173 ;  recovered  by  the  Amer 
icans,  193;  evacuated  by  the  Confed 
erates,  286. 

Saybrook,  colony  of,  67 ;  absorbed,  69. 

Schenectady,  massacre  at,  97. 

Schuyler,  Gen.,  161, 163. 

Scott,  Gen.,  215,  223;  his  victory  at  Lun- 
dy's  Lane,  224 ;  his  campaign  in  Mexico, 
251 ;  nominated  for  the  presidency,  259 ; 
in  the  Civil  War,  266 ;  retires  from  com 
mand,  268. 

Secession  of  eleven  states,  263,  265,  289. 

Seminole  War,  first,  233 ;  second,  239. 

Seward,  William  IL,  264,  289,  300. 

Shays's  Eebellion,  196. 

Sheridan,  Gen.,  285,  288. 

Sherman,  Gen.  William  T.,  283 ;  his  march 


330 


INDEX. 


to  the  seaboard,  286;  his  campaign  in 
the  Carolinas,  287. 

Shiloh,  battle  of,  272. 

Sioux  War,  of  1876,  301. 

Slavery,  introduced  into  Virginia,  48;  in 
New  Netherland,  54  ;  in  New  England, 
76;  discussions  respecting,  257;  aboli 
tion  of,  in  the  United  States,  293. 

Slave-trade,  abolition  of  the,  210. 

Smith,  Captain  John,  43. 

South  America,  discovery  of,  13. 

South  American  Eepublics,  234. 

South  Mountain,  battle  of,  276. 

Spottsylvania  C.  H.,  battle  of,  284. 

Stamp  Act,  the,  123-130. 

Stark,  Gen.,  140,  162. 

St.  Clair,  Gen.,  160,  202. 

Steuben,  Baron,  arrival  of,  168. 

Stillwater,  battles  of,  163,  164. 

St.  Leger,  expedition  of,  161. 

Stony  Point,  captured  by  Clinton,  172; 
captured  by  Wayne,  172. 

Stuyvesant,  Peter,  77. 

Sullivan,  Gen.,  152,  169 ;  Indian  expedition 
of,  171. 

Sumter,  180. 

Tarleton,  Colonel,  177, 181, 185. 

Taylor,  Gen.  Zachary,  239,  246 ;  campaign 
in  Mexico,  248 ;  administration  of,  256. 

Tecumseh,  211,  217,  220. 

Telegraph,  invention  of  the,  246 ;  the  At 
lantic,  262. 

Tennessee,  first  settled,  131 ;  admitted,  206. 

Texas,  annexation  of,  245. 

Thames,  battle  of  the,  220. 

Ticonderoga,  repulse  of  Abercrombie  at, 
119 ;  taken  by  Amherst,  121 ;  capture 
of,  by  Ethan  Allen,  141 ;  capture  of,  by 
Burgoyne,  160. 

Tippecanoe,  battle  of,  211. 

Trenton,  battle  of,  156;  Cornwallis  out- 
gcneralled  at,  158. 

Tripolitan  War,  208. 

Tryon,  Governor,  in  North  Carolina,  131  ; 
in  New  York,  147 ;  in  Connecticut.  172. 

Tyler,  John,  242 ;  his  administration,  243. 

Valley  Forge,  166, 168. 
Van  Buren,  Martin,  237,  289 ;  his  adminis 
tration,  as  president,  240-242. 


Vera  Cruz,  capture  of,  251. 

Vermont,  admission  of,  206. 

Verplanck's  Point,  capture  of,  172. 

Verrazzani,  36. 

Vicksburg,  capture  of,  280. 

Virginia,  origin  of  its  name,  41 ;  first  set 
tlement  of,  43 ;  first  General  Assembly 
of,  47;  negro  slavery  introduced  into, 
48 ;  Indian  massacre  in,  48 ;  a  royal 
province,  49 ;  under  Berkeley,  79 ;  un 
der  Culpepper,  87 ;  under  Andros,  99 ; 
the  capital  changed,  99. 

War  of  1812,  213-231. 

Warren,  Dr.  Joseph,  145. 

Washington,  youth  of,  108 ;  his  mission  to 
the  French  forts,  110;  in  Braddock's 
campaign,  115;  marriage  of,  120;  as 
sumes  command  at  Cambridge,  147  ; 
his  retreat  across  New  Jersey,  155;  at 
Monmouth,  169;  surrenders  his  com 
mission,  196 ;  administration  of,  as 
president,  199-206 ;  death  of,  207. 

Washington  City,  burning  of  the  public 
buildings  of,  227. 

Wayne,  Gen.,  172,  202. 

Waynesboro,  battle  of,  2S8. 

Webster,  Daniel,  223,  243,  258. 

Wesley,  John  and  Charles,  in  Georgia,  103. 

Western  Continent,  described,  6,  7. 

West  Point,  Arnold's  treason  at,  182. 

Whiskey  Pvebellion,  204. 

White-Oak  Swamp,  battle  of,  276. 

White  Plains,  battle  of,  154. 

Wilderness,  battle  of  the,  284. 

Williams,  Roger,  62. 

Williamsburg,  battle  of,  275. 

Wilmington,  N.  C.,  capture  of,  287. 

Wilmot  Proviso,  the,  255. 

Wilson's  Creek,  battle  of,  269. 

Winchester,  battle  of,  285. 

Witchcraft  in  New  England,  98. 

Wolfe,  capture  of  Quebec  by,  123. 

Woodhull,  Gen.,  153. 

Wool,  Gen.,  215,  241. 

Writs  of  Assistance,  127. 

Wyoming,  massacre  of,  170. 

York,  Canada,  capture  of,  217. 
Yorktown,  surrender  at,  191 ;  siege  of,  in 
the  Civil  War,  275. 


D.  D.  MERRILL  &  CO., 

35  East  3d  Street,  St.  Paul, 

BOOKSELLEES  &  STATIOMES. 


Special  attention  given  to  supplying 

PUBLIC-SCHOOL  AND  SUNDAY-SCHOOL  LIBRARIES. 

Send  for  information. 
THE    LARGEST    ASSORTMENT    OF 


EDUCATIONAL   BOOKS, 

In  all  Styles  of  Bindings,  and 

AT   LOWEST   PRICES. 


FANCY  GOODS  AND  STATIONERY, 


IN  ALL  VARIETIES. 


Agency  for  the  sale  of  all  of  D.  Applcton  &  Co.'s  school  publications 
for  the  State  of  Minnesota. 


QDAGKENBOS'S  STANDARD  TEXT-BOOKS. 


Elementary  History  of  the  United  States.  Made  easy  and 
interesting  for  beginners.  Brought  down  to  the  present  Adminis 
tration.  Splendidly  illustrated.  l6mo,  pp.  216.  65  cents. 

Illustrated  School  History  of  the  United  States,  with  nu 
merous  Maps,  Plans  of  Battle-fields,  and  Pictorial  Illustrations. 
Brought  down  to  the  present  Administration.  I2mo,  pp.  538.  $i  .30. 

First  Book  in  English  Grammar.     i6mo,  pp.  120.    45  cents. 
An  English  Grammar.     I2mo,  pp.  288.     80  cents. 
Illustrated  Lessons  in  Our  Language.     i2mo,  pp.  180.    55  cts. 
First  Lessons  in  Composition.     i2mo,  pp.  182.    80  cents. 

Advanced  Course  of  Composition  and  Rhetoric.  A  Series  of 
Practical  Lessons  on  the  Origin,  History,  and  Peculiarities  of  the 
English  Language,  Punctuation,  Taste,  the  Pleasures  of  the  Ima 
gination,  Figures,  Style,  Criticism,  and  Prose  and  Poetical  Com 
position,  with  Exercises.  Neiu  and  revised  edition.  12 mo,  pp. 
450.  $1.30. 

A  Natural  Philosophy.  Embracing  the  most  recent  discoveries 
in  Physics,  and  exhibiting  the  application  of  Scientific  Principles  in 
every-day  life.  Accompanied  with  335  Illustrations,  and  adapted 
to  use  with  or  without  Apparatus.  I2mo,  pp.  450.  $1.5°* 

A  Primary  Arithmetic.     Beautifully  illustrated.     i6mo,  pp.  108. 

22  cents. 
An  Elementary  Arithmetic.     I2mo,  pp.  144.    4°  cents- 

A  Practical  Arithmetic.  i2mo,  pp.  336-  8o  cents-  KEY  to  thc 
same.  18  cents. 

A  Mental  Arithmetic.     i6mo,  pp.  168.     35  cents. 

A  Higher  Arithmetic.  A  comprehensive  treatise  for  advanced  pu 
pils.  Designed  as  a  thorough  preparation  for  the  Counting-house. 
Recently  published.  I2mo,  pp.  420.  $1.10.  KEY.  65  cents. 

D.  APPLETON  &  CO.,  PUBLISHERS, 

549  6°  551  Broadway,  New  York. 


D.  APPLETON  &  CO:S  PUBLICATIONS. 


Quackenbos's    School    Histories     of    the 
United   States. 


ILLUSTRATED  SCHOOL  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 
12mo,  538  pages. 

ELEMENTARY  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  Beauti 
fully  illustrated  with  Maps  and  Pictorial  Engravings.  12mo,  230 
pages.  

WHAT  TEACHERS  THINK  OF  THEM: 


Sister  M.  Regis,  La  Porte,  Ind.: 
"The  Histories  are  excellent  works, 
just  the  books  to  be  placed  in  the  hands 
of  children."— J.  R.  Carothers, 
Shippensburg,  Pa. :  "  Quackenbos's  His 
tory  of  the  United  States  is  an  admira 
ble  work,  excellent  both  in  arrangement 
and  style.  The  Primary  History  is  a 
model  in  attractiveness.'''' 

Rev.  C.  Reynolds,  Rector  of  Trinity 
Church,  Lawrence,  Kansas:  "It  is  a 
most  delightful  volume;  and,  were  I 
teaching  a  dozen  classes  in  United  States 
History,  I  would  use  no  other  book  but 
yours."— A.  G.  Harrington,  Princ. 
Union  School,  Canastota,  N.  T.:  "I 
consider  Quackenbos's  History  of  the 
United  States  the  VERY  BEST  work  of 
the  kind  for  the  school-room,  and  shall 
Immediately  introduce  it." 

V.  H.  McDaniel,  Supt.  of  Schools, 
Strafford,  N.  H. :  "  Your  History  is  the 
BEST  work  of  the  kind  I  ever  perused. 
Its  beautiful  typography,  its  correct  or 
thoepy  of  proper  names,  its  well-exe 
cuted  maps,  embracing  the  topography 
of  the  most  important  places  mentioned, 
cannot  fail  to  make  it  a  universal  favor 
ite." 

Pres.  Neff,  of  Soule  Female  College, 
Tenn. :  "  I  have  compared  Quackenbos's 
History  of  the  United  States  with  sev 
eral  others,  and  am  better  pleased  with  it 
as  a  school-book  than  with  any  I  have 
teen." 


Prof.  Metcalfe,  Princ.  of  the  Ladies' 
Seminary,  Brooklyn:  "Your  History 
requires  nothing  but  circulation  among 
persons  of  taste  to  secure  its  introduc 
tion  universally.'1'' — Prof.  Calender, 
of  Franklin,  Tenn. :  "  I  know  no  better 
school  History  of  the  United  States;  I 
use  no  other." 

J.  R.  Roche,  Princ.  of  Baltimore  Acad 
emy  :  "  With  its  clear  and  simple  style, 
and  the  spirit  of  fairness  in  which  it  is 
written,  it  cannot  fail  being  extensively 
used  as  a  standard  class-book  in  our 
schools."— R.  F.  Worley,  Princ.  of 
Boys'  High  School,  Harrisburg,  Pa.: 
"After  a  full  and  close  examination  of 
its  merits,  compared  with  those  of  other 
Histories,  I  have  concluded  to  adopt  it 
in  my  school." 

Edward  Cooper,  Princ.  Brownsville 
Female  Inst.,  and  formerly  Editor  N.  Y. 
Teacher:  " I  am  using  all  Mr.  Quacken 
bos's  works  with  the  greatest  satisfac 
tion.  His  uniform  accuracy  and  per 
spicuity  give  him  the  preeminence  in 
the  very  difficult  sphere  of  making  good 
text-books  for  schools.  His  work  has 
been  so  well  done  that  I  do  not  hesitate 
to  introduce  the  Primary  History  upon 
the  strength  of  his  name." 

J.  D.  H.  Corwine,  Princ.  of  Classical 
Institute,  Logansport,  Ind.:  "I  shall  at 
once  introduce  it  as  the  BEST  work  of 
the  kind  on  this  important  branch  of 
education." 


D.  APPLET  ON  &   CO:S  PUBLICATIONS. 


[Specimen  Engraving^ 


Illustrated  School  History  of  the  World, 

FROM  THE  EARLIEST  AGES  TO  THE  PRESENT  TIME, 

By  J.   D.   QUACKENBOS,   A.M.,  M.  D. 

1  vol.,  12mo,  473  pages. 

This  new  School  History  is  written  in  a  style  that  is  a  model  of  clear 
ness,  eloquence,  and  elegant  condensation. 

It  is  not  a  mere  record  of  wars,  but  portrays  as  well  the  social  life 
of  the  nations,  ancient,  mediaeval,  and  modern,  their  progress  in  science, 
literature,  and  the  arts,  discovery,  invention,  and  civilization. 

It  leaves  insignificant  details  and 
repulsive  statistics  out  of  view,  but 
presents  all  that  is  of  real  consequence, 
dealing,  in  fact,  with  many  interest 
ing  parts  of  the  world's  annals  which 
have  been  heretofore  comparatively 
overlooked. 

It  condenses  the  whole  history  of 
the  past  into  a  moderate-sized  vol 
ume  that  can  be  readily  mastered  in 
the  course  cf  the  ordinary  school  year. 
It  treats  ancient  countries  in  the 
lic;ht  of  the  most  recent  discoveries. 

It  brings  down  the  history  of  every 
country  to  the  present  year,  with  in 
valuable  freshness  and  accuracy. 

It  is  profusely  illustrated  with  ar 
tistic  colored  maps,  ancient  and  mod 
ern,  and  with  magnificent  engravings 
from  spirited  designs,  in  which  the 
truth  of  history  is  rigidly  preserved. 

It  is  full  of  pleasant  stories,  which 
relieve   the   narrative,    while    some 
times  they  give  a  more  vivid  view  of 
men  and  manners  than  whole  pages 
of  description  would  do. 
It  is  adapted  to  every  school,  public  or  private,  in  which  General 
History  is  taught. 

Every  possible  device  has  been  resorted  to,  in  order  to  make  this 
manual  an  attractive  school-book,  to  render  the  learning  of  history  easy, 
and  to  imbue  the  pupil  with  a  taste  for  historical  reading. 


EGYPTIAN  OBELISK. 


D.  APPLET  ON  &  CO:S  PUBLICATIONS. 


Cornell's  Physical  Geography 

ACCOMPANIED  WITH  NINETEEN  PAGES  OF  MAPS,  A  GREAT  VARIETY  OF  MAP 

QUESTIONS,  AND  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  THIRTY  DIAGRAMS  AND 

PICTORIAL   ILLUSTRATIONS ;   AND   EMBRACING  A 

DETAILED    DESCRIPTION    OF   THE 

Physical  Features  of  the    United  States. 

By     S.     S.     C  O  E-  INT  E  JL,  L  . 
1  vol.    large  4to,    104  pages. 


The  attention  of  teachers  is  particularly  requested  to  this  new  volume 
by  the  Author  of  Cornell's  popular  Series  of  Geographies,  in  the  belief 
that  it  will  be  found  to  embrace  all  that  is  valuable  and  interesting  hi 
this  important  branch  of  study,  and  to  be,  beyond  competition,  the  best 
text-look  on  the  subject.  It  is  no  mere  rehash  of  time-honored  details,  but 
has  been  drawn  from  original  sources,  and  is  on  a  level  with  the  present 
advanced  state  of  the  science.  Clearness,  adaptation  to  the  school-room, 
inductiveness  of  arrangement,  and  the  presentation  of  one  thing  at  a 
time  and  every  thing  in  its  proper  place — features  which  have  contrib 
uted  so  largely  to  the  success  of  the  other  Geographies  of  the  CORNELL 
Series — are  among  its  striking  characteristics. 

It  is  interesting  to  the  learner.  The  dry  statistical  style  usual  in 
similar  text-books  has  been  avoided,  and  the  great  wonders  of  Nature, 
always  fascinating  to  the  inquiring  mind,  are  presented  in  the  most  strik 
ing  manner,  so  as  to  rivet  the  attention  and  impress  the  memory. 

The  illustrations  are  numerous  and  beautiful,  and  are  used  wherever 
it  was  thought  they  would  help  to  elucidate  the  text.  Maps  and  diagrams 
have  been  liberally  introduced.  The  maps  are  executed  in  the  finest 
style  of  the  art — carefully  drawn,  distinctly  engraved,  and  tastefully  col 
ored  according  to  the  most  approved  style.  Each  map  is  accompanied 
with  questions  in  great  variety. 

The  physical  features  of  our  own  country  receive  particular  attention 
in  a  closing  chapter.  The  student  is  aided  by  a  fine  Physical  Map  of  the 
United  States,  which  (in  addition  to  the  features  usually  presented)  showa 
the  mean  annual  temperature  of  diiferent  parts  of  the  country,  the  vege 
table  products  of  different  sections,  and  their  mineral  resources,  the  rela 
tive  values  of  the  precious  metals  produced  in  the  several  States  being 
clearly  represented  to  the  eye  by  an  ingenious  plan.  A  Map  of  Alaska, 
on  a  comparatively  large  scale,  is  also  presented. 

It  is  believed  that  the  above  features,  besides  others  which  there  ia 
no  space  here  to  enumerate,  cannot  fail  to  recommend  this  work  to  all. 


D.  APPLET  ON  &  CO:S  PUBLICATIONS. 


GET    THE    BEST! 


Cornell's  Geographies 

SURPASS  ALL  OTHERS: 

1.  In  philosophic  arrangement,  the  spirit  of  their  motto  being  fully 

carried  out — "  First  the  blade,  then  the  ear ;  after  that  the  full 
corn  in  the  ear." 

2.  In  the  gradual  progression  of  their  steps,  whereby  the  difficulties 

usually  encountered  by  beginners  are  removed. 

3.  In  presenting  one  thing  at  a  time,  and  impressing  it  on  the  mind 

before  another  is  introduced. 

4.  In  the  adaptation  of  each  part  to  the  age  and  grade  of  scholarship 

for  which  it  is  intended. 

6.  In  the  admirable  mode  they  prescribe  for  memorizing  the  con 
tents  of  a  map. 

6.  In  their  full  explanations  and  explicit  directions  for  describing  the 

natural  divisions  of  the  earth,  saving  the  teacher  time  and  labor. 

7.  In  their  judicious  selection  of  facts,  the  usual  mass  of  irrelevant 

details  pertaining  to  astronomy,  history,  zoology,  botany,  etc., 
being  excluded. 

8.  In  the  appropriate  and  instructive  character  of  their  illustrations. 

9.  In  consistency  between  maps  and  text. 

10.  In  the  introduction  into  the  Maps  of  such  places  only  as  are  men 

tioned  in  the  book — thus  saving  the  pupil  from  the  discourag 
ing  necessity  of  groping  for  a  given  locality  among  a  labyrinth 
of  crowded  names. 

11.  In  the  clear  representation  of  every  fact,  and  the  analytical  pre 

cision  with  which  each  branch  of  the  subject  is  kept  distinct. 

12.  In  being  at  once  practical,  systematic,  and  complete,  philosophical 

in  its  arrangement,  and  progressive  in  its  development  of  the 
subject. 

These  merits  characterize  the  whole  Cornell  Series  in  a  preeminent  degree.  So  clearly 
Is  every  fact  presented,  with  such  analytical  precision  is  one  branch  of  the  subject  kept 
distinct  from  another,  so  carefully  is  all  that  does  not  legitimately  fall  within  the  province 
of  the  science  excluded,  as  to  leave  no  doubt  as  to  its  decided  superiority.  The  knowl 
edge  acquired  from  Corneirs  books  must  be  digested,  and,  therefore,  long  remembered 
The  studeat  learns  one  thing  at  a  time,  and  learns  it  well 

A  FULL  DESCRIPTIVE  CATALOGUE  SENT  UPON  APPLICATION 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

EDUCATION  -  PSYCHOLOGY      . 
LIBRARY 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 
on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 

7  DAY  USE  DURING 

SUMMER  SESSIONS 

FEB  ^  0  1967 

MA?     S19S7 

^tiflS&V             u-S^gS-u, 

I  LJ 


STANDARD  EDUCATIONAL  WORKS. 

Science  Primers :  I.  CHEMISTEY.  By  H.  E.  EOSCOE,  Professor  of 
Chemistry  in  Owens  College,  Manchester;  author  of  "The  Spectrum 
Analysis,"  "  Lessons  in  Elementary  Chemistry,"  etc.  II.  PHYSICS. 
By  BALFOITR  STEWART,  Professor  of  Natural  Philosophy  in  Owens 
College,  Manchester ;  author  of  "  Elementary  Lessons  in  Physics." 
With  Illustrations.  Tinted  paper.  Flexible  cloth  covers.  18mo. 

Spalding's  History  of  English  Literature. 
Sewell's  First  History  of  Greece.    iSmo.    358  pages. 
Child's  First  History  of  Rome.    I8mo 

Tenney's  Analysis  of  Derivations  and  Definitions  of  English 
Words. 

Tappan's  Elements  Of  Logic.  By  HENRY  W.  TAPPAN,  Chancel 
lor  of  Michigan  University.  12mo.  467  pages. 

Taylor's  Manual  of  Ancient  and  Modern  History.    Svo.    870 


Webster's  Elementary  Spelling-Book.    "The  National  stand 
ard."    More  than  one  million  copies  are  sold  annually. 

Worthen's  First  Lessons  in  Mechanics.    With  Practical  Appli 
cations  designed  for  the  use  of  Schools.    12mo. 

Wilson's  Elementary  Treatise  on  Logic.    By  W.  D.  WILSON, 
D.  D.,  Hobart  Free  College.    12mo.    425  pages. 

Winslow's  Elements   of  Moral  Philosophy:   Analytical,  Syn 
thetical,  and  Practical.    12mo.    480  pages. 

Youmans's  Chemical  Works.    Consisting  of: 

NEW  CLASS-BOOK  OF  CHEMISTRY. 

THE  HAND-BOOK  OP  HOUSEHOLD  SCIENCE.  A  Popular  Account  of 
Heat,  Light,  Air,  Aliment,  and  Cleansing,  in  their  Scientific 
Principles  and  Domestic  Applications.  12mo.  Illustrated.  470 
pages. 

Youmans's  Botany.    Designed  to  cultivate  the  Observing  Power  of 
Children.    With  numerous  Illustrations.    12mo.    167  pages 


D.    APPT^ETON    &    CO.,   N.Y., 

WILL  SEND  A  DESCRIPTIVE  CATALOGUE 

of  English,  Latin,  Greek,  French,  Spanish,  Italian,  Hebrew,  and  Syriac 
Text-Books,  to  those  applying  for  it. 


